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Hannibal Buress’ ‘transparent’ Bieber roast joke is cut, so he shares it

Hannibal Buress at the Comedy Central Roast of Justin Bieber at Sony Pictures Studios on March 14.
Hannibal Buress at the Comedy Central Roast of Justin Bieber at Sony Pictures Studios on March 14.
(Chris Pizzello / Invision/AP)
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Hannibal Buress was one of the few comedians who called out Justin Bieber’s roast for what it probably was: a way to get back in the public’s good graces.

The embattled pop star was made the butt of jokes during the Comedy Central Roast, which happened March 14 and aired Monday, but several jokes didn’t make the cut -- including a very pointed one made by Buress.

The 21-year-old Bieber changed the tone of the raunchy insult fest at the end by issuing a sincere apology for his rash of antisocial antics, aiming for redemption once all the jokes had landed.

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“Broad City” actor Buress, like several of the lesser-known comics on Bieber’s dais, illuminated the fact that the roasters were there for their own self-promotional reasons.

“They say that you roast the ones you love, but I don’t like you at all, man. I’m just here because it’s a real good opportunity for me,” Buress deadpanned during the taping. “Actually you should thank me for participating in this extremely transparent attempt to be more likable in the public eye. And I hope it doesn’t work.”

That joke never made it on air, so the comedian tweeted it as a reminder following the telecast.

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“This one got cut from #BieberRoast. I get it,” he wrote, sharing a meme bearing the truth nugget.

Jokes from other comics about the late Robin Williams, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Paul Walker were also edited out.

Buress, who’s written for “Saturday Night Live” and appeared in “30 Rock” and “Neighbors,” donned several pairs of wacky glasses to “mix up his reaction shots,” he tweeted.

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When a follower asked him what he thought about the whole roasting experience, Buress replied, “It was fun. Definitely weird. I won’t do another.”

Follow me on Twitter @NardineSaad.

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