Paul Walker Jokes Cut From Justin Bieber's Comedy Central Roast Telecast, Network Confirms—All the Details!

"Sometimes the line is discovered by crossing it," a rep explains

By Zach Johnson Mar 17, 2015 12:40 PMTags
Furious 7, Paul WalkerUniversal Pictures

Some topics are off-limits.

Comedy Central has confirmed that it will cut jokes made about the late Paul Walker during the Roast of Justin Bieber. The TV special, taped in honor of the singer's 21st birthday March 14, will debut March 30. The roast featured a few quips about the Fast and Furious star, who died in a car crash on Nov. 30, 2013.

"Roasts often push the limits of good taste and we give the participants full reign to try things knowing we have the edit to shape the show," a Comedy Central spokesperson told E! News in a statement Tuesday. "Sometimes the line is discovered by crossing it. The Paul Walker references will not be in the telecast."

During the March 14 taping, comedienne Natasha Leggero ribbed a fellow roaster, saying, "I'm not saying Martha Stewart is old, but she needs a new Walker more than the Fast and Furious franchise."

Jeff Ross, a fixture at the roasts, taunted Ludacris with his own song lyrics, saying, "'Move bitch! Get out the way!' That's what Paul Walker should've said to that tree." Many people in the audience booed him. Ross asked, "Too soon? Too fast? Too furious? Give me a break, people! I'm trying to save this kid's life."

A visibly offended Ludacris motioned to cut at one point during the taping, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

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Ross defended his bit afterward, saying, "I was so in the moment, I don't know what jokes hit."

After the roast ended, Bieber said the comments about Walker were out of line.

"I didn't particularly like the Paul Walker jokes," the singer told reporters backstage.

Though the roast was in Bieber's honor, the birthday boy wasn't the only person who was made fun of during the taping. Host Kevin Hart joked about the pop star's manager, saying, "Scooter Braun was 25 years old. He was a single man living in Atlanta alone when he found Justin Bieber on the Internet in the middle of the night. He found a little white boy with nice hair on the Internet. I don't know where [To Catch a Predator's] Chris Hansen is, but in this one, that's a goddamn predator if I've ever seen one."

Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Saturday Night Live newbie Pete Davidson also referenced another late actor when he joked, "Kevin Hart is literally the biggest comedian in the world, right? According to the Robin Williams suicide note."

Bieber got his own laughs. "What do you get when you give a teenager $200 million?" the "Boyfriend" singer asked the audience. "A bunch of has-beens calling you a lesbian for two and a half hours." He also joked about his friend and collaborator Ludacris, saying, "I knew you'd show up for me tonight. I feel like I've known you my whole life, but that's just because you look like the Mr. Potato Head I had as a kid."

To see all the jokes that made it to air, tune in to the Comedy Central special March 30.