(AllHipHop News) Legendary comedian Steve Harvey has seen it all in his 28 year career which spans stand-up, television, movies and radio. In a recent feature with The Hollywood Reporter, the veteran funnyman claims Hollywood is more racist than America as a whole.
“Hollywood is still very racist,” Harvey says. “Hollywood is more racist than America is. They put things on TV that they think the masses will like. Well, the masses have changed. The election of President Obama should prove that. And television should look entirely different. [Scandal star] Kerry Washington should not be the first African-American female to head up a drama series in 40 years. In 40 years! That’s crazy.”
In another shocking revelation, the former star of the WB Television Network sitcom The Steve Harvey Show explains how African Americans are manipulated to help increase new television networks build audiences. According to Harvey, a WB executive once informed him new networks support shows featuring African Americans because they bring a guaranteed audience. However, once the network has developed a core fanbase “they slowly start phasing them out,” according to Harvey.
One of the hardest working men in showbiz is not letting some backwards racial thinking stop him progressing. The 2012 adaptation of his 2009 book Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man entitled Think Like A Man has grossed over over $96 million worldwide with a $12 million production budget. His hosting gig at Family Feud has helped increase their ratings by 155 percent and brings in seven million viewers.