Following a heated on-air argument with Mo’Nique on his talk show, Steve Harvey is walking back some of the more abrasive comments about integrity he directed at the 51-year-old actress.
As previously reported, things between Harvey and Mo’Nique got combative last week when they were discussing the actress’ assertion that she was “blackballed” in show business after being deemed “difficult” for not campaigning for an Oscar for her role in the 2009 film “Precious.” Despite taking home the trophy for best supporting actress, Mo’Nique claims she hasn’t been able to find real work since.
“This is the money game. This ain’t the black man’s game, this ain’t the white man’s game. This is the money game,” Harvey rebuked in a statement that he’s now walking back.
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Speaking to People at a recent event for “Celebrity Family Feud,” Harvey noted that he may have let his mouth get a little ahead of his brain.
“I’ve got to slow down when I’m talking,” Harvey, 62, said. “I can’t get into heated discussions, and I’ve got to just guard my words more carefully.”
The host continued, noting that he only meant to comment on how Mo’Nique handled her situation, not the principle she was advocating for.
“I take full responsibility for it, it came out my mouth, so I can’t say that I didn’t say it,” Harvey said. “But to people that really know me, I have lived my whole life as a man of integrity. So when I was referring to ‘integrity’ in that interview, I was talking about the method in which things were being done, and that is all it was.”
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The star called his characterization of Mo’Nique that aired something he regrets looking back at it now, “because that was a bad choice of words.”
It seems there’s some love lost between the two after their heated on-air exchange, despite being all smiles after it was over. The actress took to Instagram over the weekend to share two videos lambasting Harvey as a “sellout.”
“I JUST HAD TO REPOST THIS. THIS IS FOR ANYBODY PUTTING MONEY FIRST AND NOT THE LOVE OF YOUR PEOPLE. I LOVE US FOR REAL!!!!!!” Mo’Nique wrote in the caption of a shared video in which boxer Muhammad Ali discusses what money means to him.
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“HIS GAVE ME CHILLS! WHAT HAS CHANGED!!! Y’all I LOVE US 4 REAL!!! WE DESERVE TO LOVE US BETTER!” Mo’Nique wrote in the caption of another video that directly called out Harvey as a “sellout.”