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Steve Harvey Calls Hollywood 'More Racist Than America'
Steve Harvey (Joe Seer / Shutterstock.com)
In this week's issue of The Hollywood Reporter, writer Marisa Guthrie wrote a lengthy profile of Steve Harvey. In it, the TV personality addresses his success as the host of Family Feud, and his history as a comedian. And in no uncertain terms, Harvey addresses the issue of race in Hollywood:
"Hollywood is still very racist...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."
The quote comes on the heels of Ira Bernstein, the co-president of the company that distributes Family Feud, disputing that Harvey's success as a host has anything to do with his race:
"To say Steve Harvey is succeeding because he's black is just racist...He's an extraordinary talent. Feud is not successful because Steve Harvey is black."
Guthrie herself editorializes that now that Harvey has been such a success heading up the long-standing program, other media outlets are looking for hosts like him. Or, she says, "in other, less coded words, 'We need a black host.'"
Harvey also hosts a radio show. He had his own television show from 1996 - 2002, "The Steve Harvey Show."
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