Kevin Hart shares promise with Columbus audience amid cheating, extortion scandal
Comedian Kevin Hart addressed his cheating scandal during his show in Columbus Saturday night, saying he’s “going through some s*** right now, I’m going through some drama.”
According to footage obtained by TMZ, Hart ended his sold-out show at the RiverCenter with a promise to the audience.
“This is as real as it gets right here,” he said. “I’m going through some s*** right now, I’m going through drama. And the best thing to have when you go through drama is a g**d*** support group that chooses to ride and die with you.”
“Things happen for a reason,” he continued. “I promise I’m going to come out a better man, a better father [and] a better husband.”
He also thanked Columbus fans on Instagram, saying they are his “ride or die.”
Hart has been embroiled in scandal after posting a video on Sept. 16 to his Instagram account in which he admits he made bad decisions and put himself in an “environment where only bad things can happen.”
“Sending so many apologies to my wife & kids,” the caption reads. “I gotta do better and I will. I’m not perfect and have never claimed to be ...I love you all.”
Hart also said in the video he has apologized to his children and pregnant wife, Eniko Parrish.
"I'm not going to allow a person to have financial gain off of my mistakes, and in this particular situation that was what was attempted," he said. "I said I'd rather fess up to my mistakes."
A representative told People that “someone tried to set Kevin up in a failed extortion attempt. As law enforcement is involved, we cannot comment further as it could affect the investigation.”
TMZ reported a woman has allegedly demanded money from Hart in exchange for not releasing video footage of Hart and a woman engaging in sexual encounters in Las Vegas.
The woman was later identified as Montia Sabbag, who claims she is as much of a victim in the scandal as Hart, she said Wednesday in a press conference. Sabbag denies playing a role in the extortion, but admitted to having an “intimate relationship” with Hart months ago.
Hart had previously performed in Columbus at the Civic Center on Aug. 7, 2016.
Lauren Gorla: 706-571-8647, @gorla94
This story was originally published September 25, 2017 at 7:50 AM with the headline "Kevin Hart shares promise with Columbus audience amid cheating, extortion scandal."