Often, the most hilarious jokes are the ones we make about ourselves, and many celebrities have mastered the art of self-deprecating humor. They’ve playfully made fun of their own mistakes, oddities, and public images to get a laugh, frequently while performing for large audiences and critical crowds. Whether through popular tweets or during live TV performances, these stars have used self-mockery to charm critics and connect with fans. Here’s a look at some memorable instances where they roasted themselves for comedic effect, including details on where and how they did it.
Ryan Reynolds
Ryan Reynolds frequently jokes about his career before ‘Deadpool,’ especially his role in ‘Green Lantern,’ using it as an example of a project that didn’t succeed. He embraced this self-deprecating humor in ‘Deadpool’ promotions and interviews, having the character make fun of his past work. He extends this playful self-mockery to social media, joking about his life as a parent and his business ventures, often being both the storyteller and the punchline. Even during awards shows and in comedic appearances, he continues this running gag, encouraging audiences to laugh with him about his earlier career choices.
Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift often playfully comments on how the public sees her, creating humorous skits and videos that poke fun at her various reputations. For example, during her appearance on ‘Saturday Night Live,’ she made jokes about the headlines focusing on her dating life and embraced the stories the media was telling. Her ‘Blank Space’ music video is essentially a parody of the exaggerated image people had created of her, mimicking everything from the props used to her facial expressions. She also frequently teases herself during concerts, playfully joking about her tendency to hide clues for fans and her ambitious work ethic.
Jennifer Lawrence
Jennifer Lawrence famously turned an embarrassing fall on the red carpet into a humorous running gag. She started playfully referencing her clumsiness in acceptance speeches, turning it into a charming trademark. She even preemptively jokes about being accident-prone during talk show interviews. By making fun of herself, she shifts the focus away from the pressure to be perfect and connects with audiences by showing her relatable side.
Pete Davidson
Pete Davidson frequently jokes about his appearance, health, and relationships, even on ‘SNL’s Weekend Update.’ He often starts by making fun of himself, which allows him to address difficult subjects with confidence. In his stand-up routines, he’ll share sensational stories from the tabloids, then add an extra punchline that pokes fun at his own life. This technique makes his humor feel genuine and keeps the audience laughing.
Simu Liu
Before becoming famous with Marvel, Simu Liu worked as a stock photo model. He now playfully embraces this past by sharing the photos and making fun of himself on talk shows. He often jokes about being featured in those generic images of office workers collaborating, then highlights the contrast with his action-packed superhero roles. On social media, he captions the old photos with fake inspirational quotes to add to the humor. This self-deprecating humor has become a signature part of his public persona, and fans often ask him about it during interviews.
Chris Pratt
I’ve been noticing Chris Pratt’s really open about not always being in peak superhero shape, and honestly, I find it refreshing. He’s been making self-deprecating jokes about gaining a little weight and even playfully admitting to avoiding the gym when a role doesn’t require intense training. In interviews, he’s pretty candid about his less-than-stellar flexibility and how his workouts have changed over time. It’s a funny approach that keeps the conversation about fitness lighthearted, but also subtly acknowledges the pressures actors face to maintain a certain physique. He’s owning it, and it makes him relatable.
Tom Holland
Tom Holland often makes light of his tendency to accidentally reveal plot details, jokingly telling the press he can’t keep a secret. During press events for ‘Spider-Man’ movies, he’d playfully act as if he needed someone to stop him from spoiling things, and intentionally try to get a reaction from the audience. He also frequently jokes about being short, sharing funny stories about how they adjusted during stunt work and romantic scenes. This self-deprecating humor makes interviews and publicity events feel much more relaxed and fun.
Daniel Radcliffe
Daniel Radcliffe often playfully references his fame from ‘Harry Potter’ and his unusual career path, exaggerating aspects of himself for comedic effect. He frequently shares funny stories about disastrous auditions and embraces roles that are far removed from his earlier work, joking that his younger self wouldn’t recognize them. Instead of being bothered by being typecast, he uses it as a source of humor.
Rebel Wilson
Rebel Wilson often uses self-deprecating humor in her comedy, starting with her early stand-up routines and continuing in roles like Fat Amy in ‘Pitch Perfect’. She’s said that making fun of herself first disarms criticism and allows her to turn it into a joke. She consistently uses this approach, even playfully ‘failing’ herself when discussing her singing and dancing, and confidently roasting her own fashion sense during live events before anyone else can.
Conan O’Brien
O’Brien often makes fun of his height, hair, and awkward build as a running joke during his show. He frequently starts his monologues by pointing out a joke that didn’t land, blaming his own delivery. He also tends to be harder on himself than any critic when reviewing pre-taped segments. This self-deprecating humor helps him lighten the mood and keep the show energetic, even if a joke falls flat.
Anna Kendrick
Kendrick often plays up her clumsiness and insecurities, sharing relatable everyday mishaps on Twitter and then exaggerating them in interviews. She frequently tells stories about awkward auditions, always adding a self-deprecating joke. Even when promoting ‘Pitch Perfect,’ she’d playfully poke fun at her own dancing and sense of rhythm. This consistent approach transforms small embarrassing moments into funny, polished stories.
John Mulaney
Mulaney expertly dissects his own past, frequently portraying himself as unqualified and making poor decisions. His comedy specials lay bare his worries and errors with a detached, analytical tone, then amplify the humor by adding a harsh self-critical edge. He preemptively offers the audience a brutally honest, unflattering self-assessment, turning his life story into a meticulously constructed self-deprecating performance.
Dwayne Johnson
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson often jokes about his shaved head, the iconic photo of him in a fanny pack, and his muscular physique. He playfully presents the fanny pack photo on talk shows as if it were evidence in a case. While he shares workout content, he also lightheartedly admits to indulging in cheat meals, which prevents his image from becoming overly intimidating. He also frequently jokes that he’s just playing himself in every movie role, keeping his public persona relatable and down-to-earth.
Hugh Jackman
Hugh Jackman frequently pokes fun at himself as part of his playful rivalry with Ryan Reynolds. He often jokes about overdoing his role as Wolverine and his tendency to burst into song unexpectedly. In his performances and tours, he playfully acknowledges his background as a musical theater performer who somehow ended up in action films. By making self-deprecating jokes first, he makes his witty exchanges with Reynolds even funnier.
Selena Gomez
Selena embraces her cooking blunders on ‘Selena + Chef,’ openly showing off her mistakes with everything from chopping to timing – and she doesn’t edit them out! She explains what went wrong as it happens, then watches the funny fails with her guests. The show’s clips highlight how comfortable she is with being a learner who makes plenty of mistakes. This self-deprecating humor transforms a cooking show into something relatable and enjoyable, where messing up is just part of the process.
Robert Downey Jr.
Robert Downey Jr. often uses humor to talk about the ups and downs of his career, including his past struggles and infamous arrest photos. He presents his successful return to prominence as a joke only he can truly tell. During promotion for his ‘Iron Man’ movies and beyond, he frequently made light of his own ego and efforts to rebuild his public image. This self-deprecating humor allows him to control how his story is told and maintain a positive connection with fans.
Share your favorite self roast moments in the comments and tell us who we should add next.
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2025-10-30 07:18