We’re accustomed to laughing at Kevin Hart’s pain, but the comedian’s childhood is no laughing matter.
Hart appeared on the Howard Stern Show earlier this week, where he recounted his painful childhood memories, including his father’s drug addiction. However, though his father used heroin, cocaine and crack—he once reportedly stole $20 from Hart to buy drugs—Hart didn’t let that define his formative years.
“From ages two through eight, my dad did what he could before his addiction got out of hand and he disappeared,” Hart said, adding that he nonetheless keeps in touch with his dad. “The way I see it is things happen for a reason. If my dad hadn’t been around and didn’t do drugs, I may be handling my success differently. I may be on drugs. I may be searching for something.”
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The actor-comedian also credits his mother for keeping him on a positive track and off of the Philly streets, calling her a strong woman.
“…My mom was such a strong woman, she said, ‘Look, regardless of whatever your father’s doing and where he is, I have a job to do raising you, you’re going to what what you’re supposed to do and you’re going to grow up to be two intelligent men,’ me and my brother,” Hart said.
And it’s obvious that her encouraging attitude paid off. Through it all, Hart says that he feels his childhood had made him a better man, even brightening his outlook on life.
“I’m a happy guy,” he said. “You can find positive in every negative, or you can treat every negative with a negative response.”