It’s apparently far from business as usual at Kevin Hart-owned Hartbeat Productions amid layoffs, stalled projects, and fears about the company’s future.
Bloomberg published a bombshell report about “chaos” and “conflict” at Hartbeat on Sunday, May 10. The article came out on the same day as Netflix’s star-studded roast of Kevin Hart.
The report said Hartbeat faces internal turmoil, along with mounting legal problems and financial pressure. The details were based on conversations with several current and former employees, but Hart declined to comment.
Bloomberg noted that the once-thriving company has recently been plagued by executive shakeups and multiple rounds of staff cuts. The problems have caused growing concern among employees that the company could collapse.
Hartbeat has deals to produce movies and series for multiple streaming services, podcasts for SiriusXM, and original audio series for Audible.
In 2022, the company was valued at about $650 million, but Hollywood spending cooled and projects that did not directly involve Hart became more difficult to sell.
Insiders said several planned productions unraveled and layoffs continued into this year. Multiple projects have reportedly been put on indefinite hold.
Adding to the problems, the company faces internal legal disputes involving former executives, and claims that senior executive Jeff Clanagan encouraged employees to assist with outside ventures connected to his own business interests.
Hartbeat signed high-profile deals to produce content for Netflix, Prime Video, and Tubi. In 2025, Hartbeat partnered with Tubi to bring audiences a slate of movies featuring popular content creators, including YouTuber Kinigra Deon and DC Young Fly.
The company also produced Netflix’s comedy competition series Funny AF with Kevin Hart, which concluded last week as part of the Netflix Is a Joke Festival.
Other recent projects include a 2023 documentary for Netflix about Hart and Chris Rock’s paths to success titled Kevin Hart & Chris Rock: Headliners Only.
A Barbershop series starring Jermaine Fowler for Prime Video was announced last year. Plus, Hartbeat produced the award-winning Peacock limited series Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist starring Hart, Samuel L. Jackson, Taraji P. Henson, Don Cheadle, and Terrence Howard. The project won multiple NAACP Image Awards, including best limited television series.
The Bloomberg article said Hart told staffers at the production banner he would step in as the new CEO in January 2025, in an effort to stabilize the company. “Instead, Hart went weeks and sometimes months without visiting the office,” insiders told the outlet.
Hart licensed his name and likeness to Authentic Brands Group in January 2026. A press release said the partnership was “about acceleration, growth and diversification.” Instead, the deal reportedly raised new concerns among staffers that the end of Hartbeat is near.
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