I decided to watch last two week’s “The Greatest Roast of All Time: Tom Brady” on Netflix. Being an ardent admirer of Brady, I wanted to find out what was going to happen during the event particularly given his iconic position in the sporting world. What I realized is that it was a blend of comedy, surprises and awkwardness.
Tom Brady has always been one to be looked upon with respect. With seven Super Bowl rings, he seems invincible. Nonetheless, this roast aimed to make him more human through humor. The thought of Brady being so exposed thrilled me and I anticipated some light-heartedness. However, things went beyond expectation.
Nikki Glaser was one of the comedians at the roast. There are some interesting points that Nikki Glaser made during an interview in the recent past. She hinted at the fact that Brady might not have anticipated the personal blowback from such a happening to this extent. It is easy for people to forget that even someone as celebrated as Brady has got family and personal lives which can be affected by public scrutiny. There were many jokes about his failed marriage with Gisele Bündchen and her new relationship during the roast including personal ones.
I felt a little bit uncomfortable as I watched to a point. This type of mockery was surprising given what we know about Comedy Central roasts, which are known for their caustic humor; it was odd seeing Brady – who has always been a bright spot and example in professional sports – become its subject. Nevertheless, even if he liked being laughed at, like he said afterwards, there were things concerning his kids’ welfare that he regretted in regard to participating in this event of comedy. I began to think about entertainment costs and its effects upon those connected with it.
As for me, I was struck by the lack of apparent restrictions on what could not be made fun of in this comedy roast. Nikki Glaser mentioned that roasters decided not to make jokes about Brady’s children which was a wise and honorable thing to do. However, there were no bounds when it came to making jokes about his personal life and relationships. According to some reports, Gisele Bündchen felt disrespected and hurt. This moment reminds me how public personalities such as Brady and Bündchen are coping with having private lives under constant public scrutiny.
At times we forget that every celebrity is still an individual with emotions and a family behind the fame façade. When Brady apologized for the effect the roast had on his family members, it forced me to reconsider these events’ nature. These events are supposed to be funny but at times one wonders if they cross the line between humor and hurting someone else as well; this roast blurred just that fine line too many times.
As far as the roast was concerned, there were several controversial moments. Some parts of the roast however were genuinely funny and light-hearted. To see Brady laughing at himself was a breath of fresh air and showed that he can take a joke. But in general, it left me wondering if the fun cost of it all.
Looking back on this; I think there is a lesson in empathy to be learnt from this and one about how our words can hurt others. In an age where every person’s life can be showcased for amusement, it is important to recognize the human side of things. Tom Brady’s experience is a reminder that even those who seem to have everything can still get deeply hurt by the public criticism.
The roast did have some comical parts but it also reminded us about setting boundaries and considering potential effects on those involved. But through his participation in the roast, Tom Brady was acting heroically while its aftermath later proved that sometimes such vulnerability comes with enormous price tags.
We must strive not to lose sight of humanity when we find humor in people around us as fans or viewers.
