Photo Credit: Getty Images
Steve Harvey has always been candid about his role as a father, but in a recent conversation on The Pivot Podcast, the 68-year-old comedian revealed the challenges of watching his daughter Lori Harvey's love life play out in public.
"It's hard, man. I ain't gonna lie, it's hard. I've had to swallow some things, you know? And I feel for her because she's in the public," Harvey admitted. He explained that his daughter's visibility as a model, actress, and entrepreneur often draws unwanted attention, making every relationship a topic of discussion.
The Family Feud host described a strict family rule when it comes to Lori's romantic history. "See, I gotta be real careful cause Lori, boy, she be in my ass. I can't make no mistakes... I saw one of [her] exes somewhere at a game somewhere and I shook his hand. Well, I can't even touch him no more. I better not acknowledge him or look at him or nothing no more. So I'm off limits," he said. Harvey added with emphasis, "If you a ex, your ass is my ex too. The rule in our house is: any boy that's an ex, he's now my ex too. I must hate him like we was dating."
Harvey also acknowledged the difficulties of parenting in the spotlight, particularly when his daughter's beauty and career attract high-profile suitors. "Her life has had to be played out in the public eye. People don't understand when you have an attractive daughter that's in the light, it'll attract a certain cat. And cats that got more, know they got more to offer, so it's been difficult watching her. But she's very smart and everything they said online, I know it's never true. I hate it for her, but I think she's figuring it out now," he said.
Beyond humor, Harvey stressed his duty as a father and protector. "As their father, I'm their protector. I'm their example of what love looks like towards their mother. So how I treat their mother is very important because they looking at it and they see it. So, that's why I always try to be a great example for them."
His protective stance has carried through from Lori's teenage years. Recalling her junior prom, he told her date: "Whatever you do to her, I'm gonna do to you. So if I look outside and y'all kissing real hard, when you come in here, me and you gonna kiss real hard."
With seven children from three marriages, Harvey remains outspoken about the responsibilities of parenthood—balancing humor, loyalty, and unwavering boundaries to protect his family.
