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Steve Harvey decided to share his thoughts on the state of comedy and blasted comedians who use podcasts to ‘tear down’ other comedians.
For VICE TV’s Black Comedy in America, the latest episode features a round table with the Kings of Comedy. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen the men together addressing black comedy in its current state. The living members of the “Kangs” reflected on how the film pioneered the new generation before discussing the present day. One thing that separated D.L. Hughley, Cedric The Entertainer, and Bernie Mack was their unbreakable relationship with one another.
This opened the door for Steve Harvey to address the constant drama of comedians alleging that others had stolen their jokes. Steve seemingly blasted Katt Williams who kicked the year off on Club Shay Shay spewing venom towards his peers.
“I be sitting up here looking at these podcasts of these other comedians that’s going on talking about other comedians, hold up dog, where did that sh*t come from?,” asked Harvey. “When did we become that? When did we get in the tearing each other down business? Cause you ain’t never heard me say not a disparaging remark against another comedian nowhere. You ain’t heard him, him or him cause we ain’t cut from that cloth.”
Harvey wasn’t done there. He reminds anyone who wants to blast comedians that he has his own platforms to do the same. He also reminds everyone just how big those platforms are and how much damage he could do if he were like them.
“So what is your motive for doing this here? And you’re not going to tear him down, and look, man, I got a real platform. I got a radio show to do 9.5 million people every day on it. I could cut that mic on and let you have it. I’m talking bout I could fix your career on a permanent basis partner. Cause I got four hours a day to do it. I don’t do that. I ain’t got no minutes for you, man. I’m not in the tearing down business, I’m in the uplift business regardless as to what you say.”
Perhaps this could be resolved in an open conversation but the divide is bigger than we imagined. Bonds between comedians have been the bedrock of the craft but we know Katt will always say exactly how he feels. While Harvey’s comments will take center stage Black Comedy in America is a must-watch from VICE TV.
In retrospect, King of Comedy was a rare masterpiece comparable to catching lightning in a bottle.