Steve Harvey is 60 years of age, and clearly astute enough to know that a Black person meeting with a man that has proven himself to be an enemy of the people would cause an uproar. Apparently, the comedian and budding media mogul was taken aback at the backlash for meeting with President Donald Trump and now regrets it all of a sudden.
Harvey sat down for a profile with The Hollywood Reporter which examined his rise to now manning six television shows as part of his growing empire. Naturally, the conversation turned to the Trump meeting in 2016 which Harvey says was sparked as a result of President Barack Obama’s urging.
From THR:
Earlier this year, you met with then President-elect Donald Trump. (Contorts his face.) Why are you making that face?
I didn’t see that coming. Jesus.
See what coming?
The backlash. It was so vicious that it really threw me. I was being called names that I’ve never been called: Uncle Tom. A coon. A sellout. Because I went to see this man?! Which only happened because my business partner got a call from the Obama transition team, who said that the Trump transition team would like to set up a meeting. The Obama team said they thought it would be a good idea because the president is encouraging dialogue. And I have a relationship with Obama. We’re friends. So I say, “OK, cool.” Now, here’s the crazy thing: I’m supposed to be on a boat for my 60th birthday, so my wife says, “Steve, just take off [and skip the meeting]. You’ll meet with him some other time.” God, I should’ve listened.
Harvey continued and said that he was hoping to support the president on the basis he was sincere about sparking a conversation between different communities who shared varying political opinions.
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Photo: WENN.com
