Katt Williams shuts down Mike Epps’ Kevin Hart insults on the Listen & Laugh Podcast with Ice Cube [VIDEO]
The Comedy Veterans Clashed Over Lingering Grievances On The Second Episode Of Ice Cube’s New Show
Katt Williams stepped in to defend Kevin Hart on Listen & Laugh, the new podcast from Ice Cube and Mike Epps. Epps was in the middle of a rant. He called Hart a “little […]” who caused him years of grief. Williams cut in fast. “This is my friend you talking about, easy,” he said. Then he added, “Sorry Kev.”
The moment came on Episode 2 of the porch-style show. It exposed a split between two comedians who both now share a Netflix movie with Hart. Williams explained exactly why he forgave Hart. He said Hart’s apology covered every item on a mental list of 15 demands. Epps, meanwhile, admitted he joined 72 Hours only because he “forgot he didn’t like” Hart. The contrast shows how differently old wounds heal at the top of comedy.
One porch held two grudges, and only one of them is settled.
Mike Epps Lets Loose on Kevin Hart
The exchange came around the 46-minute mark. Ice Cube and Epps were hosting Williams for a long, loose sit-down. The talk turned to industry relationships. Then Epps brought up Hart.
He did not hold back. Epps said he has long called Hart a “midget” and a “punk ass.” He described Hart as “arrogant as f—.” Still, he offered some respect. Epps said he has “love” for Hart as a fellow comic and Mark Twain Prize winner.
That love had limits. “I still don’t like him,” Epps said. “Little muthaf—a. Caused all kind of grief in my goddamn life.” The line got laughs. It also hung in the air.
Then came the confession. Epps said he signed on to Netflix’s 72 Hours because he “forgot he didn’t like” Hart. He treated it as a business decision. The job came first. The grudge just took a nap.
Williams was sitting right there. He’s in the same movie. That made the moment tense for everyone at the table. Ice Cube watched as the room went briefly awkward.
Katt Williams Explains His 15-Point Forgiveness Test
Instead of raising his voice, Katt Williams gave a reminder instead. “This is my friend you talking about, easy,” he said. He followed with a nod to the absent star: “Sorry Kev.”
After that, he got honest about his own past. “I didn’t like the guy, and I had reasons that I felt that way,” Williams said. Few fans would argue, as his feud with Hart is one of the loudest in modern comedy.
In early 2024, Williams gave an explosive interview that went viral. He called Hart an “industry plant” and he went after several other stars too. Years earlier, his stand-up had mocked Hart as a “puppet.” He even challenged Hart to a comedy showdown with big money on the line.
The thaw started in private. Hart reached out directly, with no go-betweens. Williams said he came into that conversation with a checklist. “There was probably a list of 15 things in my head,” he said. Hart had to say all of them before the two could be good.
Hart delivered. “To his credit, or the credit of him and Netflix or whatever it was, he said everything I needed to hear him say,” Williams explained. He called the apology “worthy” of forgiveness. After that, nothing was left to fix. “Once that was behind us, now we can do whatever the work is,” he said.
The peace went public at Hart’s Netflix roast this past May. The private talk had happened about eight months before that. The truce then carried straight onto the 72 Hours set. Williams, Hart and Epps all share the screen. Only one of the two podcast guests at that table has fully made peace.
Decoding the Mike Epps-Kevin Hart Beef History
Epps’ jabs were nothing new. He has a long public history of friction with Hart. On the porch, he owned it. He said he has called Hart a “midget” and a “punk ass” for years. The digs come out as jokes. The resentment underneath sounds real.
Epps has also been open about his own rough stretches. In past interviews, he has talked about substance use earlier in his career. He has also said he worries about industry fallout from high-profile interviews. None of that caution showed up here. He named Hart, cursed him out and blamed him for “all kind of grief.”
He’s still pulled in two directions. Epps credits Hart as a fellow comic and Mark Twain Prize winner. In the same stretch, he calls him “arrogant.” Then he admitted he took the 72 Hours job once Hart called. He made it sound like a practical choice, not a reconciliation. Viewers zeroed in on Williams’ face as Epps said it. The business side of the truce was suddenly out in the open.
Fans React to Katt’s Line in the Sand
The clip spread fast across social media. Most viewers laughed. Few took sides with any real heat. Fans mostly treated it as entertainment, and the gap between Williams’ new stance and Epps’ old jabs did the rest. One popular reply from @IAmKonX focused on Williams’ reaction. It came as Epps described taking the movie once Hart called. The user read it as Williams noticing the transactional side of that admission.
Opinions split on Epps. @amunzemi praised his loose, high-energy style. That user argued his off-the-cuff commentary makes the show worth watching. In that view, the jabs are the point. @SorryStatesUSA saw it very differently. The user criticized Epps’ overall contribution to the episode. The post said the show lacks prepared questions and real conversation. It also called his delivery unstructured. It was a harsh early review for a podcast only two episodes old.
Other accounts spread the clip further. @dom_lucre shared it with Epps’ “little […]” line front and center, alongside Williams’ response. The wider conversation broke along a few lines. Some fans praised Williams for standing up for a friend. Others said Epps was just being consistent with years of public comments. A smaller group talked about how the new show is hosted. Almost nobody called for apologies or consequences. Mostly, the crowd wanted more.
The Friday Family Reunites on Ice Cube’s Porch
The setting gave the clash extra weight. Ice Cube and Epps launched Listen & Laugh in early this month under Cube Vision. The weekly show comes out in video and audio. Its set is built to look like a front porch.
The three men go way back, as Epps broke out as Day-Day in Next Friday in 2000. Katt Williams joined them both for Friday After Next in 2002. Cube built that franchise from the ground up.
Williams’ episode covered far more than Kevin Hart. He talked about his early career and the Friday films. He revisited old industry disputes and discussed current projects. But one unscripted minute became the episode’s calling card.
What Comes Next for Katt, Kev and Mike
All eyes now turn to 72 Hours. The Netflix comedy puts Williams, Hart and Epps in one cast. The press run will test that chemistry. Every joint appearance will be picked apart.
Hart has talked before about more ensemble projects with this group. Those plans now come with a new wrinkle. Epps’ comments could hang over future bookings. Audiences will weigh friendship against business.
Listen & Laugh puts out a new episode every week. Williams has made his position clear on the record. Kevin Hart is his friend now, and he wants everyone at the table to know it.