Actor and comedian Kevin Hart is speaking out for the first time since the September car crash that left him with serious back injuries. In a video posted to his Instagram account, Hart reflects on the accident and his road to recovery, stating that perhaps the accident was a wake-up encouraging him to slow down and appreciate those around him more.
“Basically, what you realize is that you’re not in control,” a voiceover of Hart says at the beginning of the clip, with text detailing that he was in a car accident on September 1. “No matter how much you think you’re in control, you’re not in control. At the end of the day, it can all be over, man.” The video then goes on to show news footage of the crash, showing the severity of the accident. Hart's friend Jared Black was driving Hart's 1970 Plymouth Barracuda at the time of the accident, and Black's fiancee was also in the car. Black reportedly lost control of the vehicle and slammed into a tree. Both Hart and Black suffered serious back injuries in the accident.
The clip goes on to show video of Hart in the hospital, wearing a large back brace and breathing equipment while two medical professionals help him stand with the help of a walker. Hart shows video of his physical therapy, with a shot of a large scar down his spine, detailing the progress he's made since the accident. “You know, when God talks, you got to listen,” he says as he narrates the video. “And, I swear, life is funny because some of the craziest things that happen to you end up being the things that you needed most. In this case, I honestly feel like God basically told me to sit down. You know, you’re moving too fast, you’re doing too much, sometimes you can’t see the things that you’re meant to see. But after my accident, I see things differently.”
The emotional video then shows different clips of Hart with his family and friends and talking about how much they mean to him, and how his accident has changed how he sees things. “I see life from a whole new perspective and my appreciation for life is through the roof,” he says. “I’m thankful for my family, my friends. I’m thankful for the people that have simply ride with me and have been with me ‘cause you stood by me. My fans, thankful for all your love and support. So don’t take today for granted ‘cause tomorrow’s not promised. More importantly, I’m thankful for God. I’m thankful for life.”
The video shows just how far Hart has come since the accident, with him initially struggling to do physical therapy exercises to him working with more weights and running on a treadmill. He shows a clip where his doctor tells him that it will take approximately a year to heal completely, to which Hart responds, "I'm not in a rush."
He concludes the video, which features a sweet moment between him and wife Eniko Hart, by saying, “I’m thankful for simply still being here, the road to being a bigger and better version of me. Looking forward to an amazing 2020.”
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