Hannah Berner, comedian and former reality TV star, has addressed backlash surrounding her roast joke about Blake Lively in Netflix’s comedy special, Torching 2024: A Roast of the Year. The joke, made prior to recent allegations against Justin Baldoni, has sparked controversy in light of the lawsuit filed by Lively last week.
Berner took to Instagram Stories to clarify the timing of her comments, writing: “My joke in the Netflix roast was filmed before news of the lawsuit. To be 100 percent clear, I support Blake xoxo.”
The Roast Joke and Its Fallout
In the special, Berner referenced rumors of Lively’s alleged difficult personality, delivering a punchline that played on the year’s most provocative moments. While the audience laughed during the taping earlier this month, the context has since shifted dramatically.
Lively’s recent lawsuit accuses her It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni of sexual harassment and orchestrating efforts to tarnish her reputation. As a result, public sentiment has overwhelmingly rallied behind Lively, making Berner’s roast joke appear out of touch in hindsight.
Behind the Lawsuit
Blake Lively’s legal action against Baldoni includes claims of shocking on-set misconduct and leaked text messages allegedly revealing a PR campaign to harm her reputation. While Baldoni has denied the accusations, his agency, WME, dropped him shortly after the lawsuit was filed.
The Broader Context of the Roast
Berner wasn’t the only comedian to push boundaries during Netflix’s roast. Fellow comic Tim Dillon made waves by impersonating the ghost of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, underscoring the no-holds-barred approach of the event.
As the controversy unfolds, Berner’s clarification aims to distance her comedic intent from the sensitive circumstances now surrounding Lively. For now, there’s been no public response from Lively or her team regarding the Netflix special.
