The Dark Comedy of Roasts: When Pokes Become Pricks The roast, once a lighthearted way to poke fun at colleagues and peers, has evolved into a spectacle that blurs the lines between comedy and cruelty.
Initially meant as a playful way to celebrate an individual's career or accomplishments, it has devolved into a humiliating ritual where participants are subjected to relentless ridicule.
The tradition can be traced back to the early 1900s when the private New York Friars Club would hold exclusive roasts for theatrical luminaries.