A friendly roast is an affectionate joke shared with someone who enjoys that style of humour. The recipient should be laughing with you. Choose a harmless habit they already joke about and keep the ending warm. If you are uncertain whether a subject is welcome, use a funny compliment instead of testing a boundary.
Make it personal
Choose a low-stakes target
A famously long playlist or devotion to elaborate coffee can be playful material. Leave appearance, health, grief, money, identity and painful experiences out. Avoid age jokes unless the person has clearly welcomed them.
Read it as if someone else shared it
Text has no friendly tone of voice to rescue it. Check whether the joke still feels kind without context, keep it brief and finish with something sincere. Get the recipient's comfort right before choosing the roast option.
