Paul McCartney Reportedly Declined Netflix’s Live Roast Before Kevin Hart Took the Spotlight

Netflix has been trying to turn its celebrity roast specials into major live events. After the massive attention around The Roast of Tom Brady in 2024, the streamer reportedly looked for another huge name to headline the next edition.

According to Variety, one of the biggest names approached before Kevin Hart was actually music legend Paul McCartney. The report says Netflix producers wanted another “GOAT” figure for the roast format and believed the former Beatle would be the perfect choice. In the end, McCartney reportedly passed on the offer.

Jeff Ross, who serves as executive producer for the roast franchise and is widely known as the “Roastmaster General,” confirmed the story while speaking with Variety.

“We did ask Paul McCartney at one point. To me, that would be a fantasy roast,” Ross said. “Paul McCartney doesn’t need anything, but a Paul McCartney roast would be good for the world. It would be so funny to me because he is so loved.”

Variety also reported that Netflix had discussed several other major celebrities for future roasts. One of the rumored names was Will Smith, with speculation that a roast appearance could have helped him publicly laugh at himself following the Oscars controversy.

Netflix’s live roast format officially launched in 2024 with The Roast of Tom Brady, which became one of the platform’s biggest live comedy events. Kevin Hart hosted that special before later becoming the main target in this year’s roast event.

Ross explained that Netflix wants these specials to feel much bigger than traditional celebrity roasts. “There are a lot of B-list celebrities who want to get roasted. I want it to be like the Super Bowl of roasting,” he told Variety in an earlier interview.

He also teased future possibilities for the franchise, saying musicians could become the next big targets. “A pop star or a rock star would be great. A rapper would be great,” Ross said. “I could see Drake getting roasted and being a great one.”

The Roast of Kevin Hart streamed live on Netflix from the Kia Forum in Los Angeles. The event featured comedians and celebrity guests including Chelsea Handler, Pete Davidson, Regina Hall, Dwayne Johnson, and Katt Williams.

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