Kim Kardashian was booed by the crowd Sunday evening at the Kia Forum in her hometown of Los Angeles when she took the podium at the roast of Tom Brady.
The reality star, 43, appeared caught off-guard by the chilly reception at the event, which was broadcast on Netflix as part of the streaming service’s Netflix Is a Joke Fest.
The Los Angeles native was immediately jeered as she made her way onstage, pausing for a moment after thanking host Kevin Hart, 44.
She appeared to be launching into a joke, telling Hart, ‘I know a lot of people make fun of your height,’ before appearing to do a double take at the outburst from her less than-adoring public.
Kardashian, who sported blonde locks as she held a Champagne glass at the event in Southern California, sought to get the show back on track, saying, ‘Alright, alright, alright, Kevin,’ who himself appeared to jump in to do damage control as he said, ‘Whoa, whoa.’
It’s not the first time Kardashian has received a chilly reception from the public in her own backyard at an event linked to pro football: She was booed by the crowd at a Los Angeles Rams home game at SoFi Stadium against the Dallas Cowboys in October of 2022.
The crowd at the game began heavily booing when the Jumbotron camera panned from singer John Legend to the reality star, who smiled and waved prior to blowing a kiss.
A number of people on Sunday took to social media with real-time reactions to the chilly reception Kardashian received at the comedy event.
‘Kim Kardashian getting booed at the Tom Brady Roast is incredible,’ one user wrote, while another said, THEY JUST BOOED KIM KARDASHIAN BEFORE SHE EVEN SAID A WORD LMFAO.’
Said one user: ‘Bill Belichick gets a standing ovation and Kim Kardashian gets booed. The Tom Brady roast is the best thing Netflix has ever produced.’
Some users said that the booing was reflective of the public’s general exhaustion with the Kardashians and their broadcasting/marketing empire.
‘Guess you should only appear live when you can control the narrative. Otherwise you’ll get booed right off the stage every time,’ the user said, adding ‘Team Yeezy’ to the end of their post.
Said one user: ‘We keep trying to tell “the powers that be” that we don’t want that family in our spaces! Yet, they INSIST on pushing them in our faces, anyway!’
Some users commented on the uncomfortable dynamic the jeering of the reality star led to on the live broadcast.
‘Holy s*** like half the audience at the Tom Brady roast just mercilessly booed Kim Kardashian to the point where she had to stop and acknowledge it,’ one user said.
Another added, ‘OMG, they booed Kim Kardashian so bad. That was embarrassing. Audience only stopped because Kevin asked them to stop.’
The Public Enemies Podcast compared the booing to that garnered by the villain pro wrestling faction, The Judgment Day: ‘The crowd when Kim Kardashian came to the mic to start roasting Tom Brady.’
In her set, Kardashian alluded to past rumors of a romance with Brady after they crossed paths last summer at a July 4 party in the Hamptons.
‘I’m really here tonight for Tom,’ said Kardashian, who past dated NFL players including Reggie Bush and Miles Austin. ‘I wasn’t going to come tonight, but since I’m not here as Tom’s date, there’s still a good chance I might.’
Kardashian’s set also included a reference to Caitlyn Jenner, who was formerly married to her mother Kris Jenner.
‘I do know it would’ve never worked out,’ Kardashian said. ‘An ex-athlete, high cheekbones, silky hair … you remind me too much of my stepdad now.’
She added: ‘Part of me thinks you would want to entrust me just to try on my clothes. I know the transition from the NFL must’ve been really hard, but I think my stepdad is a great example for you.
‘She’s one of the best athletes in the world, who proved you could do anything in this next chapter in your life. You can become a commentator, a far-right Republican or even a strong, confident woman.’
Kardashian made a reference to her late father Robert Kardashian’s work on the late O.J. Simpson’s ‘Dream Team’ of attorneys, to wrap up her set.
‘Honestly, it’s hard for me to watch people roast you,’ Kim said. ‘But I think enough of my family members have helped defend former football players.’
She concluded in saying, ‘So I’m just here tonight to support you and celebrate you – I’ll give you the same advice I give all of my exes, good luck knowing the best is behind you.’
Among the comics set to take the stage at the roast for the former NFL quarterback included Jeffrey Ross, Bert Kreischer, Tom Segura, Nikki Glaser, Andrew Schulz, Tony Hinchcliffe, and Sam Jay.
Brady’s former New England Patriots teammates Rob Gronkowski, Randy Moss and Julian Edelman were slated to appear, as well as rival standout quarterback Drew Bledsoe.
The Greatest Roast of All Time: Tom Brady can be seen on Netflix.