Regina Hall and Kevin Hart are well acquainted with each other following a more than 20-year-long co-working relationship.
After filming nine different projects together, their rapport with each other has blossomed off-screen into a playful, jocular friendship.
When the two comedic actors are in the same room and not filming, teasing each other is almost guaranteed. Beneath the jokes, though, there’s still clear love and respect between them — even if the playful jabs occasionally go a little too far.
Last March, Hart surprised Hall with flowers and hugs while guest co-hosting “Today with Jenna and Friends.” The playful reunion quickly turned shady when Hall recalled him joking on set about her “scantily clad” look, telling crew members to “get a robe so Regina can cover up her sandbags” — a jab at her chest.
This time around, though, it looked like Hall may have finally gotten him back.
Their established banter and friendship made it more shocking that Hall seemed unamused at Hart’s special night on Sunday May, 10.
Netflix hosted “The Roast of Kevin Hart,” where the comedians’ close celebrity friends had the opportunity to make jabs at him.
Everyone from Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson to Tom Brady to Lizzo was there. Even his nemesis and comedic peer Katt Williams made a surprise appearance after Hall, and they seemed to bury the hatchet in front of the audience.
But what many viewers noticed most was Hall’s troubled facial expression throughout the night.
At times, people saw that the “Girls Trip 2” star was not smiling, even if the room was filled with laughter. Some even thought her visage showed signs of Hall being annoyed or angry with certain jokes.
One person who noticed this wrote a caption on X with a video of Tony Hinchcliffe’s set roasting Hart. In it, the controversial comedian made racial jokes such as “The Black community is so proud of you right now George Floyd is looking up at us all laughing so hard that he can’t breathe.”
Hart went from crying, laughing, to wiping his tears and his smile away.
“Ppl were wondering why Regina Hall looked like she didn’t want to be there. This could be a reason,” said one person who posted the joke on X.
NBA player Draymond Green, who was seated in the audience, came to the podium to share his joke about Chelsea Handler, who is notorious for dating Black men.
He said, “I never have, and never will, smash Chelsea Handler. I’m Draymond Green. I don’t hit threes.”
Even though, Handler was laughing quite vibrantly, Hall — who was sitting right next to her — barely cracked a smile.
“Regina Hall doesn’t seem to appreciate that roast,” said one person on X who saw Hall’s face.
Another observer noticed, “I’ve noticed that every time Regina Hall is mentioned they skip right past on roasting her. #KevinHartRoast.”
It seems that everyone got the memo not to play with Hall, who sat on stage looking poised and beautiful without even smiling.
Someone else responded, “She was added last minute so they didn’t really have time to write jokes for her. Also what can you really say about her? She’s the only star on that stage lol.”
Even when Hart extended the “olive branch” to Williams, Hall sat down before everyone next to her in the section did.
“Why is REGINA HALL UPSET,” asked a X-user who noticed this. Another said, “Regina regretting this.”
A clip from her ‘Roast’ set was reshared on social media, showing part of a joke where Hall said Hart’s deceased mother, Nancy Hart, was communicating messages for her to tell Hart.
In part of it, she said, “Last thing Miss Nancy says is, ‘Thank you all for being here to celebrate with my son. I love you, Kevin Hart. Have fun on your big night.” She then made a jaw-dropping joke about actor Michael Clarke Duncan and his role in “The Green Mile.”
Hart, in shock, replied, “What the f-ck?” while the rest of the room erupted.
It’s unclear whether Hall has seen the flood of online reactions dissecting her facial expressions during the roast, as she has yet to publicly respond to the chatter.
Hart initially remained silent about the internet’s nonstop commentary until he woke up from a drunken hangover on May 11. In an Instagram video, he praised Hall, Chelsea Handler, Pete Davidson, Sheryl Underwood, Usher, Tom Brady and more.
He said everyone understood the assignment, even Tony, whom he described as “relentless but funny.”
“Can’t have emotions,” Hart exclaimed, claiming these are the “Consequences of a roast” and the “efforts of being funny.”
“The Roast of Kevin Hart” is available now on Netflix.
