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Paul Walker jokes cut from Justin Bieber roast

Written by . Published: March 17 2015

Bosses at Comedy Central network have cut out jokes about late actor Paul Walker from Justin Bieber's upcoming 21st birthday roast.


Celebrities like Kevin Hart and Will Ferrell took jabs at Bieber's headline-grabbing antics over the past couple of years during the taped TV special, which was taped in Los Angeles on Saturday (14Mar15), but some off-color jokes referencing tragic actor Walker will not make it to the broadcast on 30 March (15) - because they were considered in bad taste.


A spokesperson for the Comedy Central cable network tells The Hollywood Reporter executives have opted not to air anything related to the actor, who died in a car crash in 2013.


The representative says, "Roasts often push the limits of good taste and we give the participants full reign to try things knowing we have the edit to shape the show. Sometimes the line is discovered by crossing it. The Paul Walker references will not be in the telecast."


According to Access Hollywood, roastmaster Jeff Ross made the reference to Walker, and the joke wasn't well-received by the audience, especially by the late star's friend and Fast & Furious castmate Ludacris.


During a press conference following the event, Bieber even told reporters, "I didn't particularly like the Paul Walker jokes."


In addition to Ludacris, Ferrell, Ross and Hart, other stars who lined up to take jabs at Bieber included Snoop Dogg, Martha Stewart and Shaquille O'Neal.

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