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.
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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 / Avalon
Don’t at me, but I DO remember Kevin Hart working his way up. His first stand-up routines were about having side jobs while trying to make it as a comic and then being supported by his then-wife, Torrei, while grinding. He spoke about his kids when they were toddlers (and they’re grown now). I am of the age that I actually remember him starting out and being featured on things like Def Comedy Jam. His thing was always that he wasn’t a thug and he was a literal coward in fights. He was hysterical. Love him or hate him, he put in work and was not an overnight success. I remember seeing him in ensemble movies and he would eat up the scenery and steal every scene. I only stopped being a fan after he traded in his first wife for the trophy wife and then cheated on HER.
This. He was grinding a long time. Comedy Central used to air his stand up specials. My only question is how he got Soul Plane. While funny, it surprised me that he would get a marquee role like that just starting out. Weren’t there more established comedians at that time?
I’m not sure how he got Soul Plane, and–let’s face it–people in power WILL choose “safe” tokens for certain roles. But even if that’s how he got famous, he put in work.
I like Katt but he’s messy and I think he’s a little bitter but Imma let him do him.
While I did enjoy Kat’s spilling of his tea his timeline didn’t add up when it came to the Kings of Comedy. How did Cedric the Entertainer steal a joke from Katt in 2018 for a tour that was filmed in 1999? That made absolutely no sense, I think Katt had a little something something before his interview , but let him keep spilling the tea. As for Kevin Hart, why would he drag Joe Koy( even though he was bad) he’s doing the smile , nod, don’t get involved. I think that’s the approach he’s taking because if you look at his choices over the last few years, he’s trying to expand from just being a comic and is not trying to insert himself in other folks stuff. That’s the approach I’d take, look away….
Katt cleaned up the timeline later in the interview. He clarified that he did the joke in front of Cedric and a whole audience in 1998 and Cedric used it in 1999. The YouTube geeks did a mash-up and he’s right–it is almost the exact same joke (which is not even all that good IMO).
Later in the interview it was pointed out that Katt misspoke about the years that this all happened and he corrected it by saying that he told the joke in 1998 during a comedy show that was televised. Cedric saw him tell the joke, congratulated him on the joke and then in 1999 he repeated the exact same joke but made the car into a space ship. As Katt said in the interview, him telling the joke in 1998 was part of the promo used for the comedy show. There’s actual video footage confirming the timeline that Katt gave is correct. This was one of the few jokes that Cedric told that got so much attention back then. The other was his joke about Bommanicias (unsure of best spelling) that old video proves was stolen from the show Designing Women in the 80s.
A lot of what Katt Williams said came from a place of bitterness and he was careful to blatantly attack only those he knows everybody loves to dunk on. What he said about Kim Kardashian was just unacceptably nasty while excusing Kanye’s behavior. Took a shot at mental health issues of Pete Davidson on the same breathe. He knew his audience. I didn’t like what he said about Tyler Perry either. The guy did his best within the industry setting and gives job to people and its easy to look down on it while doing bare minimum for others. Cedric the entertainer bit was also overblown and mean spirited. Kevin Hart isn’t perfect but he did work his way up. People were so happy to drag whomever, it will take some time before they realize it. He is a very conservative with conservative views and he knew not to let those slip out.
I don’t know if I would say it came from a place of bitterness. He was there refuting lies that were previously told about him. I don’t see how a man correcting lies that were told about him and other comedians he respects as being bitter. Was it bitterness on Ricky’s part (on Club Shay Shay 2023) to say that Katt was supposed to be the Santa and not the pimp in Friday After Next? Was it bitterness for Cedric (on Club Shay Shay in 2023) to say that the timeline of him stealing Katt’s joke doesn’t add up when actual video footage proves that he did actually steal his joke? Was it bitterness (again in 2023 on Club Shay Shay) when Steve Harvey said that the reason Kings of Comedy ended was because Bernie and the others wanted to do movies while he only wanted to do television and standup. All of them still did standup. Bernie was doing movies before the Kings of Comedy tours even started. Steve has been in multiple movies and tried to get the movie role Bernie had in Oceans 11. In the interview Katt never made fun of mental health. He said that people are out here questioning Kanye’s sanity after they spent years trying to build him us as some type of genius while they liken him to Jesus. He never said that PD was crazy, he said that Kanye was trying to get back with a woman that even PD didn’t want anymore. That to me wasn’t a swipe at mental health but a swipe at a man who has bounced from woman to woman to woman with no limitations of what type of women he dates. I’m not saying that everything he said was fair or even nice, but I can’t see how him saying what he said was out of bitterness.
@Nerd ITA
I do think at times I sensed an understandable frustration from Kat Williams in the interview. Like feeling frustrated with there being clear evidence that Cedric stole his joke and then getting away with pretending that it never happened. And also a frustration at Steve Harvey speaking mistruths about Bernie Mac- his comedic talent, career and potential. I would also be frustrated if someone did that to my friend especially if my friend had passed away and couldn’t defend themselves.
To me Kat Williams sound passionate about his art form. He wanted to critique the hypocrisy of others, he highly values comedic integrity and he wanted to defend himself & fellow comedians like Bernie Mac. He didn’t sound bitter. Plus (as far I know) he spoke his truth in that interview, delivered it with a comedic flair and hasn’t spent a lot of referencing it since? If he was coming from a place of bitterness I think he would be endlessly referencing it.
That said my bias is that I think he’s actually funny, creative & doesn’t punch down on marginalised communities to make a joke. Whereas the other comedians he criticised tend to be homophobic misogynists that just aren’t funny.
I think Katt is so beloved among comedians no one wants to rip him a new one by going point by point about the veracity of his interview. With the exception of Cedric stealing his joke everything appeared to be Katt’s opinion presented as fact as opposed to actual facts. There’s tons of evidence refuting what he’s saying or clarifying what he’s said like Ice Cube did, but the fact of the matter is Kevin put the work in. To excuse away Kevin as a “plant” does make Katt sound bitter.
This whole nonstory is sad. I saw Kevin Hart’s stand up at a small regional university around 2010-2011. He barely had a full house in the audience but he was hilarious. That he “magically appeared” is just bitter and a slap in the face to a comic who seriously did work his way up.