‘Damn!’: Kevin Hart loses it over Don Cheadle’s age in viral interview
Actors Kevin Hart and Don Cheadle came this close to having a genuine heart-to-heart moment on the former’s new Peacock series, “Hart to Heart.”
But leave it to Hart to ruin the moment by putting his foot in his mouth.
In a clip from Hart and Cheadle’s wide-ranging interview that went viral Thursday, Cheadle is thoughtful about the “blessing and the curse of” a demanding job that allows a person to provide for their family.
Released last week, the conversation instantly derails, however, when the Oscar- and Emmy-nominated actor casually mentions his age — and Hart loses his mind.
“We’re very fortunate, obviously, to be able to create these opportunities for ourselves and for our kids and be in a position, for the first time in my family, ... to have a shot at whatever this generational wealth thing means,” Cheadle says. “But at the same time ... I’m 56 years old —”
“Damn!” Hart interjects, making no attempt to hide his astonishment.
Launched in 2017, Hart’s Laugh Out Loud has shifted strategies significantly as the industry of online content has radically changed.
Without missing a beat, Cheadle does what Cheadle does best and goes into serious actor mode, hitting Hart with a withering stare.
“I’m sorry,” Hart says, buckling under the “Black Monday” star‘s stern gaze. “It was a thought, and I blurted it out. I did not mean it that way. ... I didn’t mean it the way it came out.”
“We’ll take a poll on how you meant it with people here, later, after the show’s over,” Cheadle says, committing to the bit with mock(?) irritation.
At this point, the discussion has fully shifted from deep meditation on family values to a debate over whether Hart said “Damn!” as in “Damn, I would not have guessed that!” or, “Damn!” as in, “Damn! That’s old!”
“If we could play it back right now, these are two different ‘damns,’” Cheadle quips. “Do you want me to tell you how you said it? Do you want me to say it back to you how you said it?”
Don Cheadle had a wee cameo in ‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’ pilot. Now he has an Emmy nomination for it, and he’s just as confused as you are.
Equally amused by Hart’s unchecked outburst and Cheadle’s sharp response, the internet could not get enough of the exchange on Twitter.
“Nah this just killed me cuz this is how I be ruining moments,” wrote @BigMalikMoves in a tweet that has amassed nearly 90,000 likes.
“It’s a good day when my favorite actor @DonCheadle is trending for this hilarity,” tweeted author and podcast host Jemar Tisby. “That stare!”
After some skeptics blasted Hart for what they considered inexcusably rude behavior, Cheadle came to his friend‘s defense, clarifying that the tense interaction was all in good fun and part of their natural rapport.
“EVERYBODY, please watch the entire episode,” Cheadle tweeted. “[On] top of understanding that this is just how we play it’s a really good one, i think. the first question he asks me is, ‘drugs; do you do them?’ in the parking lot i said he looked like a black-o-lantern in that suit. it’s just us.”
You can stream Hart and Cheadle’s complete, hour-long chat on NBC’s Peacock.
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