During the most recent episode of Drink Champs, Kevin Hart came to Will Smith’s defense after being asked to choose between the Fresh Prince and his Ride Along co-star, Ice Cube.
“Dark times deserve fucking great light,” Hart said of Smith. “I’m not gonna shit on my brother. They both are my brothers, but I’m not gonna take the time to shit on them. I’ma say Will Smith, and here’s why: Will Smith is a fuckin’—he’s not only a legend, he’s not only a GOAT,” he said, as N.O.R.E. interjected, saying, “We now know he’s a gangsta.”
“Will Smith is the reason why the idea of African Americans attached to global IP is normal,” Hart said. “… Studios took the gamble on more leads of color because of the work that Will Smith and Denzel were doing in the beginning, right?” he explained. “You need the faces that are giving the universal return. So I’m not gonna shit on Will and act like he hasn’t been, and wasn’t, that guy.”
He added, “And people make mistakes, and from mistakes, they should be allowed time to fuckin’ recover. … And that this is no longer the world’s problem; it’s Will and Chris’s problem. Let them deal with that. The world should step out of it and let them recover.”
Hart shared a similar sentiment in July when he defended his fellow comedian at the premiere of his animated movie, DC League of Super Pets. “Will is apologetic, you know; he’s in a better space, of course than what he was after,” he told ET. “People are human, and as humans, sometimes we make mistakes. So it’s not about talking about the past; it’s about acknowledging the present and doing your best to move forward.”
“I can only hope that the two of them find a way to find some solace in that and move past it,” Hart continued. “I just like good energy. I love to see people be the best. I still love him, I still love Chris, and you know, you can’t judge a person by one thing. Ultimately life goes on, and people grow, so give him the opportunity to do so.”
