Kevin Hart Gets Cold Shoulder Over Comments About Lack Of People With Bank Accounts From Low Income Areas

Comedian Kevin Hart is one of the most celebrated comedians of this era, with a massive following across the globe; however, the funny man gave fans something to frown about when he referred to people in the hood as not being “smart enough” to open bank accounts, in a now-viral video.

Kevin Hart says the hood is full of liquor stores and check- cashing payday loan places because people aren’t “smart enough” to have bank accounts.

These celebs get a little $$ and think they can comment on planned systemic poverty + financial exploitation. pic.twitter.com/iiGidvNXws

— Housing 4 All is Hot (@ahouse4all) September 25, 2023

The clip, pulled from Hart’s 2021 panel at the 10X Growth Conference hosted by Grant Cardone, began making the rounds on social media on September 26 and caused a firestorm of responses about the tone-deaf nature of the comedian’s comments.

“If you look in the hood, there’s liquor stores and check cashing places. You know why? Because they know the people in the hood aren’t smart enough to open up bank accounts. They’re gonna get a check, they gon’ cash it, and it’s a liquor store right next to it,” Hart said while attempting to address socioeconomic inequality.

“Let’s just put that around them. Let’s also put a bunch of s–t that’s easy and cash available. We don’t want you to gain credit. We want you to be cash-driven. That’s how we keep the poor poor. It’s not until you understand that you get out.”

Hart’s words hit a sour chord with listeners who believed the comedian was unfairly aiming at people who have been historically disenfranchised and systemically oppressed.

As Black people instead of insulting each other when we make it we need to work harder for their to be financial literacy taught in schools & talk money in our homes. We have kids about money. As in savings 😳Encourage each other to take economics & marketing.

— Kathia Woods (@kathia_woods) September 26, 2023

“As Black people, instead of insulting each other when we make it, we need to work harder for [there] to be financial literacy taught in schools & talk money in our homes,” writer Kathia Woods said.

Woods’ feelings were echoed by many who expressed similar sentiments about the power of educating one another rather than pointing fingers. At the same time, there were others who felt Hart’s comments were much more pointed.

This is a specific type of explaining that these brothers do when they want to sound smart by saying things they think rich white men want to hear. Like intellectual minstrelsy or something. https://t.co/3wjHqshhvs

— David Dennis Jr. (@DavidDTSS) September 26, 2023

Hart has not responded to the video’s resurfacing.