Kevin Hart Is Reportedly Taking A Step Back From His Media Company Hartbeat Following Authentic Brands Group Deal – AfroTech
Kevin Hart’s deal with Authentic Brands Group (ABG) has impacted his media company Hartbeat.
As previously reported by AFROTECH™, the multi-platform media company released projects across TV, film, digital, and audio, and had a $650 million valuation in 2022. This coincided with the merger of Laugh Out Loud and HartBeat Productions, bringing both companies under the HartBeat banner, as well as a $100 million investment from Abry Partners.
As for where the venture stands today, film and television projects have declined, and new podcasts that were pitched have not been produced, according to Bloomberg. Hart, who was appointed CEO of Hartbeat in 2025, is no longer playing a significant role in the company. A small group of executives is now managing the day-to-day responsibilities of Hartbeat.
Additionally, there have been shifts in the workforce. Hartbeat laid off around a dozen employees in December 2025. Eric Eddings and Lesley Gwam were among the staff laid off by the company. They were tasked with producing audio shows and developing projects that did not require Hart’s participation. However, Bloomberg reports those projects were developed but not approved to move forward.
When Eddings and Gwam later launched their own company and began raising funds, they were allegedly fired and sued by Hartbeat for claims of trade-secret theft and breach of contract. The court ruled the claims were “vague, ambiguous, and overly broad,” and the case is still ongoing, the outlet notes.
Tiffany Brown and Mike Stein were also fired. They served as heads of Hartbeat’s TV division. Bloomberg states there was no formal announcement clarifying the firing.
The changes in staff had come amid broader restructuring and leadership turnover at the company over the years. Earlier in November 2024, nearly 20 employees were laid off, which was nearly 25% of the workforce at the time. There were also changes in senior leadership, including former Hartbeat CEO Thai Randolph, who previously led the company to a $100 million funding round in 2022, as AFROTECH™ previously reported. She left in 2023 and was succeeded by Jay Levine, who later left the role in 2024, coinciding with the departures of Hartbeat’s chief financial officer and chief content officer, per Bloomberg.
Employees familiar with the matter told the outlet that executives had warned Hart to put the brakes on some goals. It was also noted that Hartbeat allegedly lacked the financial resources to maintain a presence in multiple arenas, such as free, advertising-supported online video and podcasts.
As previously reported by AFROTECH™, in January 2026, Hart became a shareholder in ABG, a leading sports, media, entertainment, and lifestyle intellectual property platform. At the time of the deal, Hart saw it as an opportunity to co-own his brand and scale it across consumer products, digital channels, and live experiences.
“This partnership is about acceleration, growth, and diversification. I’ve spent years building businesses and creating opportunities, and joining Authentic gives me the platform and global infrastructure to take my brand to the next level,” Hart said in a news release. “Becoming a shareholder allows me to co-own some of the most recognizable IP of all time while building my own brand legacy. I want the Hart name to live on for generations to come and be something that my grandkids and their grandkids will be able to be proud of.”
The deal with ABG reportedly gave Hart the funds to gradually buy out Abry Partners’ stake in HartBeat, giving him greater control of his brand. Hart’s endorsement deals, which had been key for Hartbeat, are now managed by ABG, per Bloomberg.
“This is a turning point for Hartbeat,” an email from “Kevin AKA Boss Man” to employees read, according to the outlet.
The email, which was actually sent by Hart’s assistant, also stated that the deal would allow Hart to focus on his strengths and permit Hartbeat to operate independently of him and scale beyond him, per Bloomberg.
“I know the past few months have been tough,” Hart wrote in the email.
According to Entrepreneur, some Hartbeat employees believe the company is at its finish line. A few employees are now working with Hart at ABG in addition to his publicist, per Bloomberg.
