Kevin Hart reflects on how 2019 car accident changed him: 'I really almost died'

Kevin Hart has acquired a new perspective on life after his life-threatening car accident in 2019, sharing that there's a "point of no return" when it comes to the toxicity that fame can bring a person. His near-death experience saved him from that.

"The biggest drug, it's not cocaine, it's not heroin, it's not Molly or opioids. The biggest drug is fame," he said during an episode of Jay Shetty's On Purpose podcast. "It's a drug that makes you feel like you are powerful and like everywhere you go, anything you want, everything you want, it's a thing and if you can't handle this thing, the consequences attached to when that thing is removed are severe."

The 43-year-old comedian said that "nobody prepares you for the world of fame," which can leave someone "shell-shocked" as they're reaching their pinnacle. "You're talking about fame, you're talking about power and that idea of invincible," he said.

That's exactly how he felt prior to being in a car accident that left him with several spinal fractures, needing surgery and ultimately relying on a rehabilitation facility to gain back his strength.

"The reality of that was significant. I really almost died," he explained, noting that he would've left his wife and children in that worst case scenario. "I didn't even have everything dialed up for if said thing were to happen. Cause I'm out here, I'm just roaming. I'm out here aimlessly living and I'm moving so fast I've yet to grasp the true concept and reality of responsibility. Immediately, let me get my responsibilities in order."

Hart went on to say "there's nothing more humbling than a quiet room," as he reflected on the stillness and fear that surrounded his hospital stay.

"Fame is great, the lights are great. 'Kevin Hart, Kevin Hart, Kevin Hart, number one, number one, number one.' [But] I was in that room with my goddamn wife, my brother and my kids," he said. "What really matters? That's when my mindset started to change."

Hart has previously referred to that moment as a "resurrection" in his first post-accident interview with Men's Health in Feb. 2020. In his most recent conversation, he told Shetty how much of his life is focused on making sure that his career doesn't become an obstacle to spending time with his loved ones.

"My approach to just me and working on me, it needs to be different," he said. "Boy, you better put your hands on these people and make sure, you better make sure that you are giving the time that you said you would when you were in the time of solace."

While the actor recognized that he can still be characterized as a workaholic, he highlighted the role that self-awareness now has in his life and how that pushes him to not only move forward, but also to reflect on the things that he once took for granted.

"For me, it was about personal evolvement after that accident and still trying, man. It's the biggest battle. The biggest battle is just doing right all the time," he explained. "That's this level of consciousness I did not have before the accident. I was a thousand miles per hour and not that I'm not still moving fast, but I look out my peripheral, I'm looking at my rearview mirrors, slowing down, I'm stopping, I'm sleeping. There is a difference."

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