Steve Harvey Says ‘Political Correctness’ Has Killed Stand-Up Comedy

Steve Harvey (Credit: Shutterstock)

Steve Harvey won’t be doing a stand-up comedy special anytime soon because he fears it could “end” his thriving TV career.

While speaking Tuesday at ABC’s Television Critics Association press tour, the Judge Steve Harvey host blamed cancel culture for killing stand-up comedy.

“The only way I can do one more special, is that it would have be to at the end of my television career, because it will end my television career,” Harvey said according to The Wrap

“We’re in the cancel culture, and nobody, no stand-up [comic] alive that is sponsor-driven can say anything he wants to. Chris Rock can’t, Kevin Hart can’t, Cedric the Entertainer can’t. I can go down the list. The only person that can say what they want to say is Dave Chappelle because he’s not sponsor-driven, he’s subscription-driven,” he continued. 

 Related Story: Bill Bellamy Defends Dave Chappelle and Takes on Cancel Culture: ‘Everyone’s So Sensitive’ (Exclusive)

Harvey made the distinction that Chappelle, who has a long-standing relationship with Netflix, doesn’t rely on advertisers sponsoring his shows, unlike other comedians with gigs on ad-driven network TV.

But Chappelle is feeling the heat too. He sparked anger, particularly among the transgender community, when his Netflix special, The Closer, began streaming on Oct. 5. 

As for Harvey, he wants to focus on his TV projects.

“If I had tried to continue as a stand-up, there’s no way I could maintain a TV career. Because political correctness has killed comedy. It’s killed it,” Harvey said during the press tour. 

Besides his new courtroom show, Harvey is also the host of ABC’s Family Feud

Judge Steve Harvey premiered last week and airs Tuesdays at 8 P.M. ET on ABC.


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About Jacquelinne Mejia

Jacquelinne Mejia is a writer and social media producer in Los Angeles. She can be reached on Twitter @JackieMejia.