Steve Harvey Unapologetic For Memo Telling Staff Not To Approach Him On Set

Funnyman Steve Harvey is not apologizing for his memo barring staff from approaching him on set of his daytime talk show.

STEVE HARVEY STANDS BY MEMO

Harvey, 60, issued a memo telling staffers they should not interact with him on set unless spoken to first, and warning that security would keep them from his dressing room door. The host says the new policy is because people would often take advantage of him by bringing their friends around to meet him and sign autographs.

“I could not find a way to walk from the stage to my dressing room, to sit in my makeup chair, to walk from my dressing room to the stage or to just sit and have lunch without somebody just walking in,” Harvey explained. “I’ve always had a policy where, you know, you can come and talk to me — so many people are great around here, but some of them just started taking advantage of it.”

He then gave some examples: “I’m in my makeup chair, they walk in the room. I’m having lunch, they walk in, they don’t knock. I’m in the hallway, I’m getting ambushed by people with friends that come to the show and having me sign this and do this. I just said, ‘Wait a minute.’”

Here is an excerpt from the memo sent around: “Do not come to my dressing room unless invited. Do not open my dressing room door. IF YOU OPEN MY DOOR, EXPECT TO BE REMOVED. My security team will stop everyone from standing at my door who have the intent to see or speak to me… Do not wait in any hallway to speak to me. I hate being ambushed. Please make an appointment. I promise you I will not entertain you in the hallway, and do not attempt to walk with me.”

This is not the first time Harvey has been in hot water about his actions. In January, he made an offensive joke about Asian men not being able to attract women of certain ethnicities. He issued an extremely weak apology on Twitter for that mishap. And this time, the comedian isn’t apologizing either. The only glimpse of an apology came when he added, “I probably should’ve handled it a little bit differently.”

In addition, Harvey has described the studio of his talk show, which on Thursday ended a five-season run in Chicago before a move to LA, as a “prison.” “I had to be in this little room, scared to go out and take a breath of fresh air without somebody approaching me, so I wrote the letter,” he said. “I don’t apologize about the letter, but it’s kind of crazy what people who took this thing and ran, man.”

He has, however, joked about the letter with fellow late night host Chelsea Handler, who Tweeted out her own version of his letter.