Kevin Hart wants to change the stereotype of Black fathers on-screen: “Most of the times they’re on drugs, off drugs, in jail, out of jail’
Kevin Hart discussed his desire to change the way Black fathers are portrayed in the media in a revealing virtual interview with Sunday TODAY’s Willie Geist.
“I love the opportunity of being a Black father on-screen in a positive light. Most of the times they’re on drugs, off drugs, in jail, out of jail. To have some sort of positivity behind it and maybe being a part of changing the stereotype,” said the 41-year-old Hart, who plays a single dad raising his daughter after the death of his wife in the new film Fatherhood, which hits Netflix on June 18.
The film is co-produced by former President and first lady Barack and Michelle Obama, along with their production company, Higher Ground.
“The reason why they wanted to take on the project was because of the story and having them see and understand the positive message behind it, that’s as good as it gets for me,” said Hart.
And when it comes to his own fatherhood journey, Hart is as busy as ever. Just a year after the car accident that left him “nearly paralyzed,” Hart and wife Eniko Parrish welcomed their second together, Kaori Mai Hart; he couple also have a son, Kenzo, in addition to Hart’s two older children, Heaven and Hendrix, from his previous marriage to Torrei Hart. While the quarantine period was hectic for the family, it also served as an important period of bonding.
“My baby girl is amazing. Kaori Mai Hart. So in love, as I am all my kids of course, but we got a new boss in the household,” he told Geist. “So it’s an exciting time. Me sitting down to get really tap into my loved ones with my wife and my kids, it was a really good thing for me.”
Fatherhood isn’t the only new project for Hart. In his new book for middle schoolers, Marcus Makes a Movie, Hart tells the story of a boy who dreams of making his own superhero film. The project was inspired by Hart’s own journey to professional success, during which he was frequently told that he couldn’t achieve his dreams.
“I wanted to help motivate and inspire our youth to simply understand that the word ‘no’ is just a word,” said Hart. “I heard the word ‘no’ a lot.”
He added, “All I am is an example of what’s reachable, what’s attainable. What I learned is talent is amazing to have, but hard work is going to possibly beat talent every day of the week. Hard work plus talent is undefeated.”
