In a night filled with sharp wit and personal jabs, NFL legend Tom Brady took the stage at Netflix's The Roast of Kevin Hart, delivering a pointed reference to comedian Kevin Hart's past infidelity scandal during the live-streamed event on Sunday, May 10. The 48-year-old Brady, known for his seven Super Bowl victories, kept his appearance brief but impactful, joking about Hart's 2017 cheating episode in Las Vegas while his then-pregnant wife, Eniko Parrish, was expecting their first child together.
Brady opened his set by acknowledging his packed schedule, saying, “All right, this won’t take long, because, as you guys know, I’m a busy man,” according to a report from Variety. He quickly pivoted to the roast's theme, adding, “But I do have a few words for you before I return to my affairs in Las Vegas. Oh, wait, I’m talking about affairs in Las Vegas. Was that off? Not supposed to talk about affairs in Vegas? I think I broke another rule. F*** it. I talked about it.” The quip drew laughter from the audience, highlighting the no-holds-barred nature of the Netflix roast series, which has previously targeted figures like Brady himself in a May 2024 special where Hart served as a roaster.
The reference stemmed from a well-documented 2017 incident that rocked Hart's personal life. At the time, the 46-year-old actor and comedian was accused of infidelity during a Las Vegas trip, with reports emerging from an alleged extortion attempt involving a “sexually provocative” video. Hart initially denied the allegations but confessed two months later in a public apology video posted to Instagram on September 2017. In the video, he stated, “I made a bad error in judgement and I put myself in a bad environment where only bad things can happen and they did. And in doing that, I know that I’m going to hurt the people closest to me, who I’ve talked to and apologized to — that would be my wife and kids.”
Hart and Parrish, who married in 2016, have since welcomed two children: son Kenzo, now 8, and daughter Kaori, now 5. Hart is also a father to daughter Heaven, 21, and son Hendrix, 18, from his previous marriage to ex-wife Torei Hart, which ended in divorce in 2011. The couple has worked through the scandal, with Parrish, 41, later sharing her perspective in Netflix's 2019 docuseries Kevin Hart: Don’t Fk This Up. She described the betrayal as “a bad one. This was major,” but emphasized forgiveness, saying, “Nine years and I think looking forward, it’ll be better. I believe in second chances. I’m all about forgiveness, and you only get two times. Three strikes you’re out, you’re out of here. So, as long as he behaves, we’re good.”
This was a bad one. This was major. Nine years and I think looking forward, it’ll be better. I believe in second chances. I’m all about forgiveness, and you only get two times. Three strikes you’re out, you’re out of here. So, as long as he behaves, we’re good.
Before Brady's segment, Hart himself set the tone for the evening, hyping up the retired quarterback's participation while taking a shot at him in return. “I’m gonna tell you right now, it’s gonna be way better than the Brady roast,” Hart told the crowd, per Variety. He continued, “The reason why is because I’m not a bitch. Tom is a bitch. Tom sat there the whole time with the f***ing white man’s face…He was a f***ing bitch. I ain’t no bitch. You bring whatever it is that you got. I could give two f***s. You go and say what you want to say. Say it. I don’t give a s***. At the end of the day, I’m Kevin Hart. I’m the man.” This exchange underscored the playful yet cutting rivalry between the two celebrities, who have crossed paths in the entertainment world multiple times.
The roast, produced by Netflix as part of its growing lineup of live comedy events, featured a roster of comedians and celebrities taking turns at Hart's expense. Brady's involvement added a layer of star power, given his status as one of the most successful athletes in American sports history. Retiring from the NFL in 2023 after 23 seasons, primarily with the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Brady has since ventured into broadcasting and business, including a high-profile divorce from supermodel Gisele Bündchen in 2022. His own Netflix roast earlier in the year drew massive viewership, with Hart among the participants who roasted Brady over his personal life and career.
Hart's path to this moment has been marked by resilience amid public scrutiny. Rising from Philadelphia's comedy scene in the early 2000s, he built a comedy empire through films like Think Like a Man (2012) and Ride Along (2014), amassing a net worth estimated at over $450 million. The 2017 scandal threatened to derail his momentum, especially as it surfaced just before the release of his promotional video for Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, where he was set to play a major role. Despite the fallout, Hart issued apologies and focused on family reconciliation, later detailing the experience in his 2019 docuseries.
In a 2021 interview with Romper, Hart reflected on discussing his mistakes with his children, noting the importance of transparency. “You have to talk to your kids about it because it’s going to come out,” he said. “Some of them are cool about it and some of them are not, depending on the situation. You have to understand the different personalities and manage them correctly.” This approach, according to Hart, helped him navigate the family dynamics post-scandal, with Parrish publicly supporting his career while prioritizing their relationship.
The Las Vegas incident first gained traction when an extortionist reportedly contacted Hart, claiming to possess compromising footage. Authorities investigated the extortion plot, leading to the arrest of individuals involved, though Hart himself faced no legal charges related to the affair. The story broke in July 2017 via outlets like TMZ, prompting Hart's initial denial on social media before his eventual admission. Parrish, who was seven months pregnant at the time, chose to stand by her husband, a decision she later attributed to her belief in redemption.
Brady's joke at the roast reignited interest in the seven-year-old scandal, prompting discussions on social media about celebrity accountability and the boundaries of comedy. Fans and critics alike praised the event for its raw humor, though some expressed concern over revisiting personal traumas for laughs. Netflix reported strong viewership numbers for the live stream, continuing the platform's success with roast specials that blend celebrity culture with stand-up comedy traditions originating from events like the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts in the 1970s.
Looking ahead, Hart has several projects lined up, including the upcoming film Lift, a heist comedy set for release in 2024, and ongoing tours for his stand-up specials. Brady, meanwhile, is preparing for his role as a lead analyst on FOX Sports' NFL coverage starting in the 2024 season. The two men's friendly feud, evident in their roast exchanges, highlights the camaraderie within Hollywood's elite circles, where past mistakes often become fodder for future entertainment.
Parrish has since focused on her family and entrepreneurial ventures, including a line of activewear, while maintaining a low public profile compared to her husband's high-visibility career. The couple celebrated their eighth wedding anniversary in 2024, with Hart sharing tributes on Instagram that emphasized growth and commitment. As the dust settles from the roast, the episode serves as a reminder of how public figures like Hart and Brady navigate fame's double-edged sword—where triumphs and transgressions alike fuel endless narratives.
Ultimately, the event underscored the evolving landscape of celebrity roasts in the streaming era, where platforms like Netflix leverage star power to deliver unfiltered content. While Brady's swipe was comedic in intent, it also brought renewed attention to Hart's journey of personal accountability, a story that continues to resonate with audiences grappling with themes of forgiveness and second chances in the public eye.