Steve Harvey appears in court to try and stop tapes of him telling racist jokes including a gag about 'assaulting old white women' being sold
- Steve Harvey's old videographer Joseph Cooper claims he should be allowed to sell two-decade-old tapes of Harvey performing at his nightclub
- The tapes allegedly show Harvey making insensitive remarks such as telling the audience to 'spit on white people'
- Earlier this month Harvey apologized for making racist comments about Asian men on his namesake talk show
Steve Harvey appeared in a federal court on Monday to try to block his old videographer from releasing old comedy tapes
Steve Harvey is trying to block his ex-employee from releasing offensive tapes of his old comedy routines where he says to 'spit on white people.'
The comedian is fighting Joseph Cooper in federal court in Dallas. Cooper and Harvey started working together in 1993 when Harvey hired him to film his comedy shows.
Cooper claims he has 120 hours worth of footage of Harvey performing at his club Steve Harvey Comedy House. This footage reportedly shows Harvey spewing racially insensitive remarks.
Cooper filed the lawsuit for breach of contact with damages amounting to $10million, forcing Harvey to meet him in the Dallas court on January 23.
In one of the tapes, Harvey allegedly exclaims: 'I don’t give a s**** about America,' according to Radar Online.
In another, he reportedly tells the audience to: 'Go assault old white women.'
Harvey claims in the lawsuit that Cooper has used these tapes over the years in an attempt to blackmail him.
Harvey denies a contact has been breached with Cooper because he never signed one.
Part of the lawsuit reads: 'The parties also never had any discussions or negotiations regarding Plaintiff using Harvey's videotaped material for purposed of Plaintiff's display, publication or sale.'
Steve Harvey accuses his former employee of trying to extort him with two-decade-old tapes
Court documents show Harvey says he hired Cooper to film his shows for personal use. Harvey mainly planned to use the tapes to develop his routine and for in-house promotions.
Earlier this month Harvey landed in hot water when he joked on his talk show that black and white women don't have any interest in dating Asian men.
The actor and comedian was making fun of self-help books on the program Monday, January 9 in light of the new year, including one entitled 'How to Date a White Woman: A Practical Guide for Asian Men.'
As soon as he read the title and saw the book cover on the screen behind him, Harvey broke down in a fit of laughter that caused him to double over.
Once he finally managed to collect himself after about five seconds, he looked at the audience and asked: 'Excuse me, do you like Asian men?'
That was just a rhetorical question it seems however, as Harvey then said in a clipped accent while twice bowing his head: 'No. Thank You.'
In a message posted on Twitter last Tuesday, Harvey offered his 'humblest apology for offending anyone, particularly those in the Asian community.' He says the jokes were meant to be humorous and no 'malice or disrespect' was intended.
The majority of the remarks from the trial released today are heavily redacted.
Steve Harvey apologized earlier this month for making racist jokes about Asian men
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