Comedian Kevin Hart, who is 5ft 2m, has challenged former NFL player Stephen Ridley to a foot race. It didn’t go according to plan, and now it won’t for some time.
Hart held his own post-race media conference on Instagram after the loss on Wednesday, where he gave his view of events to his 178 million followers.
Anytime anyone starts saying WelcomeHe said, “It’s bad.” He started and ended his speech with this phrase, so the situation is definitely not good. He added a disclaimer that fans shouldn’t be upset when they see him in public – because he’s in a wheelchair.
“We got out there, and we went 40 yards,” Hart recalled. “40-yard dash. Guys, I blew all my stuff. I tore my lower stomach, my abductors. I don’t even know what that is, but I tore them. I tore those too. I can’t walk. Sit my ass off. That’s a 44.”
He blamed the result on his age, rather than his athletic ability, explaining that he was “really fast”.
“Ladies and gentlemen, 40 is a real age. All the men and women out there are 40 and over. It’s not a game. Respect that age, or he will make you respect him,” he said.
Hart was careful to point out that he was pitching the story to Ridley, who apparently invited him to compete in the heat of an argument at a barbecue.
There are a lot of insults in the video. The caption reads in part: “I have to be the dumbest man alive!!!!!”
Plenty of celebrities added more fun in the comments, including Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Will Smith.
Even if Hart didn’t hurt himself, the odds were definitely not in his favor. An LSU star, Ridley was selected by the New England Patriots in the third round of the 2011 draft and played four of his eight seasons there.
He rushed for a career high of 1,263 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2012. The 34-year-old owns the Super Bowl ring from the Patriots’ 2015 win over the Seattle Seahawks.
Ridley commented on Hart’s post with reference to recently retired quarterback Tom Brady:
“I’ve seen @TOMBRADY do that at your age, so I thought you had so much fun bro!” Ridley Books. “My bad @KEVINHARTFOREAL! Heal and peek at what makes us all laugh!
Hart has been vocal about his love of fitness, partnering with Nike on the Hustle Hart multi-trainer shoe in 2016. He hopes to “inspire and motivate people to become the best possible versions of themselves through fitness.” “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon” in 2020
Based on the description of his injuries, he should be able to return to that mission in 6-8 weeks.
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