Omari Hardwick Defends Refusing Angry Fan’s Photo Request

Power star Omari Hardwick appeared on Power 105.1’s The Breakfast Club to promote the upcoming Tyler Perry-directed film, Nobody’s Fool, with his co-star Tika Sumpter. During the interview, the actor vehemently defended turning away a fan who wanted a picture while he was with his family.

The fan called the station upset that Hardwick refused her photo request when she saw him at Brooklyn Bridge Park in New York City in September. She also posted about the incident on her social media, which led to the movie star clapping back at another fan.

On the call to Power 105, the young woman said Hardwick turned her away because he was with his family and alleged that after she peacefully walked away, the Power actor still became irate.

“She didn’t at all walk away,” Hardwick explained. “She sat there and looked at me and said, ‘Really?’ and I said, ‘Really. I’m with my family. God bless you.'”

He continued, “You’re staring at me. You’re not even acknowledging my family.”

The lead actor gave an example of how a fan should make picture requests. If the fan in question approached him and said, “I’m such a fan. I love you so much,” and then greeted his wife, Hardwick said the exchange would have been different.

“Acknowledge our family,” he exclaimed. “This woman to my right has saved my life. You don’t really know the story,” he said of fans who think they know him because he’s a celebrity.

Hardwick continued, “I was broke as f**k. [My wife] saved my life, chill the f**k out. Then acknowledge that she is a breathing entity.”

He said people should be mindful of how they speak because no person made or owns him.