Ugh

Steve Harvey is back with more of his wisdom about men and women and relationships. (If you're not familiar with this guy's shtick, here is Renee's "Steve Harvey" archive.) And, like all the rest of his gender essentialist, heterocentrist, deeply misogynist claptrap, this "men and women can't be friends" garbage is about as fresh as pterodactyl droppings. It's also one of the key narratives of the rape culture.


[Transcript below.]

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Remember in the classic movie "When Harry Met Sally," and the character played by Billy Crystal insisted, "Men and women can't be friends!"…? Well, hugely popular syndicated radio and talk show host Steve Harvey agrees—in a big way. In his latest book on relationships, "Straight Talk No Chaser," Harvey tells me face-to-face why women who think he's just a friend are delusional. This kind of frank talk is why expectations are high that "Straight Talk" will rival his first breakthrough best seller. [begin videotaped interview] So where'd this come from—

STEVE HARVEY, ENTERTAINER/AUTHOR: I mean, it's a blessing, true enough, but really it was just me sitting down being honest. All of my friends are men. I don't have female friends. I don't. I'm incapable of that.

WHITFIELD: Why? What do you mean?

HARVEY: Well, because, you know—

WHITFIELD: Because you have a wife?

HARVEY: Well, I have a wife and I don't really have female friends because, look— Okay, let's get rid of this myth right now—

WHITFIELD: [laughing] I want to know why!

HARVEY: OK, let me tell you this. Let's get rid of the myths. You're an attractive woman. There's some guy somewhere saying, yes, we're friends. No, that's not true. He's your friend only because you have made it absolutely clear that nothing else is happening except this friendship we have. We remain your friends in hopes that one day there will be a crack in the door, a chink in the armor, and trust and believe that guy you think is just your buddy…? He will slide in that crack the moment he gets the opportunity. Because we're guys.

WHITFIELD: [laughing] And you think most men think this way?

HARVEY: Ninety-nine point nine percent of us think that way. And you tell this to a woman and it just blows her back. "No, I have male friends." You have male friends because they know it can be nothing else right now. I'll tell you what, all your male friends—just ask them in a friendly way: "If I wanted to date you, would you be okay with that?" And watch—WATCH!—the fireworks. Watch! I'm telling you.