One of the funniest things about Katt Williams’ Club Shay Shay interview was that none of his targets could really come up with a cogent argument for why Katt was wrong. Cedric the Entertainer tried and failed to push back, Rickey Smiley cried to TMZ and Kevin Hart called the whole thing “sad” and refused to address Katt’s pointed criticism. Now, I don’t even think Katt was really trying to “ether” Kevin Hart, but he did throw a lot of suspicion on Hart’s career by calling him an industry plant and saying: “In 15 years in Hollywood, no one in Hollywood has a memory of going to a sold-out Kevin Hart show, there being a line for him, ever getting a standing ovation at any comedy club.” It’s sort of true in the sense that Kevin Hart seemingly just appeared one day and everyone said “oh he’s a really famous comedian.” Well, after trying to shrug off Katt’s comments, Kevin Hart once again tried to address the situation… by not addressing it.
He thinks Jo Koy did a “phenomenal” job at the Golden Globe Awards. “Look, the climate of comedy attached to award shows has just changed drastically. And as a talent, if you don’t have the relationships that are in that room, those rooms can be cold. I don’t consider [awards shows] to be good gigs at this point. When you look at those that have had a high level of success — Ricky Gervais, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Chris Rock or Steve Martin — you’re looking at industry comics. Of course they crush in the world of stand-up. But they’re also actively involved with a lot of the personnel in those rooms. So there are relationships. It’s one of those things where nobody wants to be talked about, nobody wants to be teased and because of that, everybody’s so uptight.”
On Katt William’s “industry plant” accusations: Hart said that such an accusation “comes with the territory” of being a famous comedian, but he’s ignoring the claim otherwise. “It’s not worth my time for a response or an engagement,” Hart said. “It’s extremely beneath me in the position that I’m currently in…I think those that can’t talk about those that can.”
On Dave Chappelle: “We’re just in a time now where the microscope is significantly pointed in the direction of the comic, and what the comic is saying,. But you have the option of just not watching someone you don’t find funny or entertaining. That’s something extremely simple that people are forgetting.I don’t feel like everybody should love me. I don’t feel like everybody should think I’m funny. It’s perfectly fine.”
Yeah, from a PR/damage-control perspective, Kevin Hart’s approach is correct – show sympathy and support to all comedians, brush off the Katt Williams stuff, don’t directly engage with the fundamental criticism that he’s an industry plant. Hart’s approach will honestly work with the majority of people, not just his audience, but everyone. While Katt Williams’ interview made huge headlines and it will be reverberating throughout the comedy world and Black Hollywood for a long time, most people will just shrug it off. Still, Katt’s words really pierced Hart’s image, to me at least. Also: Kevin Hart defending Jo Koy bombing at the Globes tells you a lot too.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.
LOS ANGELES, CA – AUGUST 23: (L-R) Eniko Parrish and Kevin Hart attend the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s “Me Time” at Regency Village Theatre on August 23, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.,Image: 716371747, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Eniko Parrish, Kevin Hart, Credit line: Jeffrey Mayer / Avalon 
LOS ANGELES, CA – AUGUST 23: Kevin Hart attends the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s “Me Time” at Regency Village Theatre on August 23, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.,Image: 716371781, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Kevin Hart, Credit line: Jeffrey Mayer / Avalon 
Boris Kodjie and Kevin Hart , Shannon Sharpeattends Lakers vs Phoenix Suns Thursday October 26th 2023 Crypto.com Arena Los Angeles California,Image: 817199476, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: JERRY PEREZ / Avalon
MANHATTAN, NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, USA – JANUARY 08: Kevin Hart arrives at the World Premiere Of Netflix’s ‘Lift’ held at Jazz at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts on January 8, 2024 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States.,Image: 835419683, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Kevin Hart, Credit line: Christian Lora / Image Press Agency / AvalonncG1vNJzZmivp6x7pLHLnpmirJOdxm%2BvzqZmcW1kZYVze8qeraKmj52us8C%2Boqusl5Kau6at06GWpp2PqbygrcOdqZ6ro5S4osDTmK6ipJyerq6%2FvqKlna2jqb%2B6q8%2BlmKesj5i%2FqsDInKCspV8%3D