Celebs Who Brutally Roasted Themselves For The Sake Of A Joke

Sometimes the funniest punchline is the one aimed in the mirror, and plenty of stars have turned self burn humor into an art form. These celebrities have poked fun at their own missteps, quirks, and public personas to get a laugh, often on the biggest stages and in front of the toughest crowds. From viral tweets to live TV monologues, they used self deprecation to disarm critics and win over audiences. Here are memorable times they roasted themselves for comedy, complete with where and how they did it.

Ryan Reynolds

Reynolds has repeatedly mocked his pre ‘Deadpool’ career, often bringing up ‘Green Lantern’ as the go to example of a swing that missed. In ‘Deadpool’ promos and interviews he leaned into the meta bit by letting the character clown on his earlier choices. On social media he jokes about his own parenting and business moves, turning himself into the setup and the punchline. Award appearances and sketch cameos keep the gag alive by inviting the crowd to laugh at his past with him.

Taylor Swift

Swift has long riffed on her public image by writing skits and videos that parody her reputations. In her ‘SNL’ monologue she joked about dating headlines and leaned into the media narrative. The ‘Blank Space’ video plays like a send up of the caricature people made of her, right down to the props and facial expressions. She has also filled tour banter with playful jabs at her own Easter egg habits and overachiever tendencies.

Jennifer Lawrence

Lawrence turned a red carpet stumble into a running bit by repeatedly joking about being clumsy on live TV. In award speeches she referenced her own trip as if it were a signature move, getting the room on her side. Talk show visits often include her calling herself a walking hazard before the host can. The self digs help her steer the conversation away from perfection and toward relatability.

Pete Davidson

Davidson has roasted his own looks, health issues, and high profile relationships right on ‘SNL’ Weekend Update. He often frames jokes as if he is the butt of the joke first, which lets him talk about sensitive topics with control. In stand up specials he recounts tabloid stories and then tags them with a harsher punchline at his own expense. The approach makes his commentary feel honest while keeping the laughs big.

Simu Liu

Before Marvel, Liu did stock photo modeling, and he has leaned into it by sharing the images and clowning himself on late night shows. He jokes about being the face of generic office teamwork and then contrasts it with superhero stunts. Social posts often include him captioning the old pictures with faux inspirational lines to heighten the silliness. The self roast has become a calling card that fans request at Q and A sessions.

Chris Pratt

Pratt has used self burns about falling out of superhero shape, joking about a return to his sitcom era body. On Instagram he has called himself a snack thief and a gym dodger when a role does not demand training. Interviews often include him rating his own flexibility as below average and comparing past and present routines. The humor keeps fitness talk light while acknowledging the pressure actors face.

Tom Holland

Holland regularly jokes about his spoiler habit, telling reporters he cannot be trusted with secrets. Press tours for ‘Spider Man’ films became bits where he pretended to have a minder, then intentionally baited the audience. He also riffs on his height by recounting stunt fittings and kiss scenes that needed creative solutions. The self directed humor makes the media cycle feel playful rather than stiff.

Daniel Radcliffe

Radcliffe has played exaggerated versions of himself that poke at his ‘Harry Potter’ past and his offbeat career choices. In talk shows he recounts audition fails where he was wildly wrong for the role and laughs first. Stage and indie projects give him chances to joke that he picks scripts his younger self would never understand. He treats typecasting as a setup for a punchline, not a complaint.

Rebel Wilson

Wilson built early stand up sets around brutally honest self jabs and then carried that into characters like Fat Amy in ‘Pitch Perfect’. She has explained that calling herself the name first takes the sting away, then she flips it for a laugh. On press tours she teased her own singing and dancing by grading herself with a cheeky fail. Hosting gigs let her roast her fashion choices on the spot before anyone else could.

Conan O’Brien

O’Brien constantly skewers his own height, hair, and gangly posture as part of his hosting rhythm. Monologues frequently open with him calling out a joke that bombed and blaming his delivery. Remote pieces often end with him judging his performance more harshly than any critic would. The habit lets him reset the room and keep the energy playful even when a gag misfires.

Anna Kendrick

Kendrick leans into being small and awkward by tweeting about everyday fails and then dramatizing them in interviews. She often recounts audition stories where she felt out of place and then tags the tale with a shot at herself. Promotional appearances for ‘Pitch Perfect’ included bits where she mocked her own choreography and rhythm. The consistent tone turns minor embarrassments into polished comedy.

John Mulaney

Mulaney uses precise wording to roast his past choices, often describing himself as the last person who should be in charge. Specials detail his anxieties and mistakes with clinical clarity, then heighten them with a crueler self tag. He gives the audience the worst possible description of himself before anyone else can. That approach turns personal history into a carefully crafted self roast.

Dwayne Johnson

Johnson has a standing bit about his bald head, the famous fanny pack photo, and being a human boulder. He brings the picture up on talk shows and narrates it like a crime scene analysis. Workout posts sometimes undercut the tough image by calling himself a cheat meal machine. He also jokes that every role is just him playing himself, which keeps the brand from feeling too serious.

Hugh Jackman

Jackman’s long play feud with Ryan Reynolds often includes him mocking his own attempts at viral marketing. He ribs himself for milking Wolverine and for breaking into song at the slightest provocation. Variety shows and tours include patter where he jokes about being a theater kid who snuck into action movies. By taking the first swing at himself, he makes the back and forth banter land harder.

Selena Gomez

On ‘Selena + Chef’ she openly clowns her kitchen mishaps, from knife skills to timing, and leaves the gaffes in the final cut. She narrates mistakes as they happen and then rewatches them with guests for added cringe laughs. Talk show clips from the series spotlight her willingness to be the student who keeps messing up. The self roast turns a cooking show into a comfort watch where error is part of the recipe.

Robert Downey Jr.

Downey Jr. has joked in award speeches and interviews about his roller coaster career and the mugshots that followed him. He frames his comeback as a punchline he can tell better than anyone else. Press lines for ‘Iron Man’ era projects often included him poking fun at his own ego and image rehab. The humor lets him own the narrative while keeping audiences on his side.

Share your favorite self roast moments in the comments and tell us who we should add next.