"I only roast the ones I love." - Jeffrey Ross
A Roast is a specific event where a guest of honor is subjected to brutal jokes at their expense, intended to amuse the event's wider audience.
The Friars Club
It started in New York in the 1920s at the Friars Club. It was a private dinner for entertainers. Since comedians are naturally mean to each other backstage, they decided to put it on stage. The unspoken rule: Nothing is off-limits, but it must be done with love.
The Psychology of the Roast
Why would anyone agree to be roasted? 1. Honor: It implies you are famous enough to be worth mocking. 2. humility: Taking a joke proves you aren't an arrogant diva. It humanizes you. 3. Redemption: For controversial figures (like Justin Bieber or Charlie Sheen), a Roast is a PR move. By sitting there and letting people scream at them for 2 hours, they show they "get it" and are sorry.
The "Roastmaster General"
Jeff Ross, the current king of roasting, explains that a Roast is a "verbal hug." It's a way for men (mostly) to express affection without being vulnerable. By attacking someone's flaws, you are accepting them, flaws and all.