Kevin Hart Weighs In On Kathy Griffin And Bill Maher Controversies

Kevin Hart has some wise words for comedians who are coming under fire for controversial jokes.

During his Wednesday, June 7, 2017 appearance on The View, the I Can't Make This Up: Life Lessons author addressed Kathy Griffin and Bill Maher's recent controversies head on.

"I think that, with anything comes change," Hart expressed. "I think the times are different now and as a comedian you have to understand and respect that. If you put yourself in a position to be viewed in a negative way from the public — with social media being the way that it is — if it's negative, it is going to spread. Viral equals virus at a certain degree."

"I think you have to use better judgment," the Get Hard actor continued. "There are things as a comedian that I know I can't say because of my platform. So you have a huge platform, and you say certain things on that platform that are going to be seen by so many." 

The comedian added, "You look at Kathy Griffin, and you look at Bill Maher from what they've done. You're just looking at comics being comics. We always take risks but, you know, sometimes it can be distasteful."

On Tuesday, May 30th, Griffin released a gruesome photo of her holding a bloody replica of President Trump's head. And during his Friday, June 2nd live taping of HBO's Real Time, Maher brazenly used a racial slur. Following intense backlash, both comedians apologized. But Hart isn't letting either off the hook too easily.

"I think [with] Kathy Griffin, I get that it was a joke, it wasn't received well, you apologize and you step away from it. Whatever happens after that, it happens," he explained. "Bill Maher, I don't think Bill Maher is a racist, but you know the consequences of using the word, you know how many people view your show. It was stupid."