Media mogul Steve Harvey says he was hurt by the "fierce" public backlash to his planned meeting with President-elect Donald Trump.
The 60-year-old comedian defended his decision to meet with Trump after he was invited to Trump Tower in NYC.
“On a personal note, a lot of ya’ll hurt me,” Harvey said on his radio show on Monday. “You really did. I didn’t expect the backlash to be so fierce.”
“… I have an obligation to take a seat at the table when invited,” Harvey said. “Change can only happen if you sit at the table. If you’re not at the table you can’t even… suggest what we should be doing, he said, indirectly speaking to critics such as CNN's Marc Lamont Hill and rapper Tip "T.I." Harris, who offer no solutions.
Harvey added that "it was very important for me to take the meeting.”
He said Trump's people informed him about the meeting through his TV show contacts.
“The only way we can heal the divide in this country is through conversation,” he said.
Harvey said Trump asked him what he would be interested in, and the noted author answered he was interested in the initiatives surrounding housing for urban development.
The “Family Feud” host said Trump was “cordial” during their sit-down.
“He was very warm, and honestly, when we talked, he was very sincere,” Harvey said.