Steve Harvey on why the UAE is the ‘safest, inclusive, diverse and peaceful’ place in the world

“I prayed to God to boost my global brand and he made me the host of Miss Universe 2015. He made me mispronounce my name and in 48 hours my name was googled 4 billion times. I became the Earth The most Googled person…but I don’t appreciate the way God does it,” Harvey said, letting out a gut-wrenching laugh. But the self-made billionaire, who came from humble beginnings and wears his faith on his fashion sleeve, felt the misstep helped harden him and immediately humbled him.

“They say: ‘All publicity is good publicity’ but that’s not true at all. I don’t need that… It’s one of the biggest fiascos ever on TV and guess what… I’m making money off of it. I made 100 times more money than hosting Miss Universe … I made more money than a Super Bowl commercial … but seriously, I learned from the adversity of that moment,” Harvey said. That emotional moment is any showrunner’s nightmare, and it taught him that every obstacle is a life lesson.

“Behind every bad thing that happens to you, there is a lesson and a blessing. Just stick with it and it becomes a blessing,” Harvey said. Aside from the constant surveillance of his home and his family by four armed security guards — as he claims he has angered several Colombian groups who have made death threats — he has learned to make peace with this colossal mistake.

“Since the fiasco in 2015, I have had four armed security guards at home 24 hours…but when I was in the UAE, I didn’t even have one security guard…The UAE is the safest, inclusive, diverse and peaceful place on the entire planet , I’ve been to a lot of places,” Harvey said.

His close relationship with the UAE is legendary. The seven-time Daytime Emmy winner has been a regular in the area for the past 12 years.

“I just fell in love with the area, and I started meeting some really important people here and started having meaningful conversations with them,” Harvey said.

One such important alliance came about when he met Oweis Zahran of OWS Capital and founded celebrity/talent company Melt MidEast. Their company aims to bring celebrities into the UAE as cultural ambassadors. On Friday night at the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Harvey and Zahran will host a star-studded gala dinner with more than 30 celebrities. They will also host a celebrity charity event called the Melt Middle East Golf Classic at Yas Island in Abu Dhabi earlier in the afternoon.

“Oweis and I met five years ago, developed a friendship and then built a business. He came up with concepts that helped add culture and entertainment to the area,” Harvey said. Their goal is to break the stereotypes of the region through the power of celebrity. The glamorous events – and star-studded fundraisers – will feature the likes of RnB singer Akon and ‘Black-ish’ star Anthony Anderson spotlighting the UAE and its rich culture.

“There are still people who don’t understand that there are different regions in the GCC…I want the world to know that this is a country where women are very safe and respected…Celebrities make the spotlight even brighter….. .a celebrity can come here with 30 million virtual followers and his post will go viral..I assure you there is no place on earth like UAE. There is so much peace, safety and tolerance ,” Harvey said. With this move, he wants to dispel the myths surrounding the Middle East.

“Sometimes they’re not open-minded. Listen, because you’re famous doesn’t make you smart. Look at Kanye West,” Harvey said with a knowing expression. Controversial rapper West, now known as Yeh, has recently drawn global condemnation for a series of anti-Semitic comments. He also lost his billion-dollar partnership with Adidas and was briefly suspended from social media.

“He’s just crazy. Listen, you keep saying you’re a genius, but you keep saying some really ungenius things like… Celebrities can be great cultural ambassadors for you, but not everyone makes it,” Harvey said. Say.

The American TV host also reminded his fans that diversity and multiculturalism in this country are different.

“I want everyone to come here, check this place out and judge for yourself. There are about 200 nationalities living here. So if you’re a bigot or racist, you’re going to have a hard time here, said Harvey. He also noted how safe he felt while in the country.

“I’m used to turning around to see who’s following me, especially at night…but last night around 11pm, when I walked from my villa to the restaurant, it was pitch black, just a few lights…I kept telling myself I’m here I don’t have to look back in this city. Then, I see an innocent woman behind me with a stroller, and I know she and I are both safe here,” Harvey said.

What about gravy? He meets some incredible people along the way. Bollywood superstar Ranveer Singh is one of his “favorite men”.

“I just love that man and that guy’s hair! That’s my man. He’s like the coolest. He told me he could be himself in Abu Dhabi, and I get it,” Harvey said. But life isn’t always about getting up close and personal with the UAE’s Bollywood A-listers and basketball legends.

The son of a coal miner father and Sunday school teacher mother, Harvey’s rags-to-riches story is legendary. At one point in his 30s, he was homeless and had to sleep in his car for weeks.

“I grew up poor. My father was a coal miner earning $5 a day (Dh18) and we had five children. We lived in the house my father and his brothers built. I didn’t rush until I was six. Toilet. We don’t have running water and the toilet is in an outhouse across the road. That’s how I grew up. I was homeless when I was 30 and lived in a car. Now I have a car that buys me three houses,” ha Wei said. But it was his can-do attitude, perpetual optimism, and generosity of faith that helped him weather all of life’s storms.

“I’ve been trying to figure it out. You have to go through the process… I’ve been through something so it can strengthen me. Every experience in my life has humbled me and made me appreciate what I have today ,” Harvey said. He remembers how his father was taken aback by the number on his paycheck.

“My dad works harder than I do, but he makes $5 a day. He can’t believe what he sees on my paycheck…he tells me he has to work five years to get what I get in a day That kind of money. So I’ve always been grateful, and I’ll never forget that,” said Harvey, who wore a head-to-toe blue ombré Louis Vuitton shirt and pants. Harvey — he’s pretty much a one-man army, a mighty force of nature in the entertainment world, on hit game shows like “Celebrity Feud” and feeling grateful for his life every moment.

“I live a good life. This morning, I wanted to extend my villa for a week and the lady said I had to pay in advance… She asked for a lot of money and I gave it without thinking. It’s a Blessings. My life wasn’t always like that, so I’m grateful for where I am today.”

“When Mr. Harvey and I met, it felt like a destined moment. Even though we came from different beliefs, we formed a partnership and here we are,” said Oweis Zahran of OWS Capital, Celebrity/Talent Co-founder of events company Melt MidEast. Together with Harvey they will host the second edition of the Melt Middle East Golf Classic on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi.