KEVIN HART: NO F*CKS GIVEN

BY: Jean Louis

Kevin Hart turns over a new, more candid leaf in his latest Netflix standup special, “No F**ks Given.” Recorded at home, the comic talked about his celebrity status and family life. Both are regular tropes of his, but something in this performance is different. 

During the one hour, ten-minute show, he spoke with a new frankness.  

Hart demonstrates little regard for public opinion, and he mocked #cancelculture for his transgressions, as well as a desire to avoid people because of concern for his safety and sanity. 

COVID-19 struck the Hart household early in the pandemic. The only other celebrities confirmed with the virus were Tom Hanks and his wife, Rita Wilson. According to Hart, no way was he beating Hanks in the Covid headlines, and as for his sanity, he used his celebrity to isolate himself from the public. With multiple missteps over the past decade, Hart’s transformation was not overnight. 

Whether it was his infidelity, the tweet that halted his Oscars hosting bid, or his support of Ellen DeGeneres plus issues surrounding #BlackLivesMatter, fame has seemingly worn on the fun-loving Philadelphia native. 

Beyond the box office highs and the sympathy he received after his car accident last year, Hart’s critics have drowned out comments from his supporters. As a result, Hart’s Netflix project is very different. For critics, it is the pompous refusal of a spotlight that performers usually demand. For supporters, it is a celebrity taking public scrutiny in stride. The special unapologetically offers an overview of the present-day Kevin Hart. 

The just-released project is streaming at #2 on Netflix; it is already a success. Hart uses social media to comment, thank supporters, and continue to double down on his attitude about the critics. 2020 is bringing out human authenticity for better or worse. And Kevin Hart is no exception. No F**cks Given begins with Hart walking past images of legendary comics. He illustrates the life of an imperfect black comedian.