The Turbulent Life of Steve Harvey’s Family

The couple’s story begins in 1990 at a Memphis club. Steve was a regular feature at various stand-up shows in the city. On that fateful night, he was in the middle of his act when a woman walked in.

She was late for the show. As she gingerly made her way to her seat in the front row, Harvey reportedly stopped speaking and stared. That woman was Marjorie – his future wife.

Showing up on time to watch stand-up is imperative — unless you want to get roasted. When Marjorie noticed Harvey staring, she believed this was it. He was going to let her have it and give her the business! Instead, Harvey composed himself and said to the audience, “I'm sorry. I don't know who this is, but I'm going to marry her."

While amazed at Steve’s sudden declaration, the audience forgot about it eventually. Unknown to them, Steve and Marjorie’s story was just beginning.

Steve and Marjorie would get married, but they had to wait a long while. Despite the undeniable connection and chemistry, the timing was completely off. Steve was a married man at the time, and according to Marjorie, he ghosted her soon after without any explanation.

He later explained that his fledgling career and finances got in the way. “Before a man can be of use to a woman [...] he’s got to know who he is, what he does, and how much he’s going to make,” Steve stated in an interview.

Fifteen years passed, and life got in the way until 2005 when destiny intervened. By then, Steve’s second marriage had ended. He was also in a much better place career-wise, having made a name for himself on “The Steve Harvey Show.”

It seemed the stars had finally aligned. The two began dating, and Steve proposed to Marjorie two years later. The couple married in a beautiful ceremony on June 25, 2007.

How did Steve pop the question? It was all very romantic, as the comedian revealed on “The Steve Harvey Show,” in 2014. Steve planned to ask Marjorie to marry him during a vacation in Cabo, Mexico.

The man had it all planned out. The unsuspecting Marjorie, meanwhile, was just excited about their time away. On the first night of their beautiful getaway, Steve hid a diamond ring in her dessert. And the rest is history.

The big challenge awaiting the couple was bringing their respective kids together. Steve had four kids from his previous marriages – Karli, Brandi, Broderick, and Wynton. Marjorie also had three kids – Jason, Lori, and Morgan.

The idea of blending families did not initially go down too well with the seven. Steve was not having any of it and told his kids to “deal with it.” On the other hand, Marjorie’s had a different approach.

Marjorie chose to handle the situation more delicately. Blended families are wonderful but underneath the excitement of different worlds colliding, she knew that everyone was still in pain – broken souls who suddenly had to find ways to co-exist.

Marjorie’s approach was one of reassurance and new possibilities. She ensured everyone felt heard and seen. The kids would always have access to the one parent they know. In time, they would come to feel the love of two.

Marjorie’s words seem to have had a lasting impact. The uncertainty of starting over in a new family grew increasingly less frightening for everyone involved. The family seems happier than ever, with some members forming close bonds over the years. Things got doubly interesting when their kids got married and had their babies.

Steve and Marjorie have five grandchildren today — Benjamin, Elle, Noah, Rose, and Ezra. Exciting times for the perennially buzzing Harvey household.

Despite being happily married, the couple had to contend with vicious rumors about infidelity in the press. In 2018, an online magazine claimed that the couple was splitting up. They called it “a $400 million divorce bombshell.” Why? Steve allegedly started getting too close to Kris Jenner – a long-time showbiz friend.

The accusations were false, and the couple learned to joke about it. Marjorie was a lot more entertained by the rumor about them having $400 million!

Steve later revealed that he was “sick” of the senseless rumor-mongering. Dealing with the press might be part of the territory for celebrities, but even Steve Harvey had his limits.

He said that the media acts like he doesn't have a family or like his kids can't read. He added that the media just go out to destroy people without any facts behind what they publish. He was right. The same publication seemed to have it out for him and struck again with a new story.

In May 2019, online reports of Steve’s divorce battle and “hush-hush” mission to liquidate assets surfaced again on the same platform. What fresh hell was this? The news report took it further by claiming that Marjorie took her daughter on a trip around the world after an epic fight with her husband.

These rumors turned out to be false yet again. Steve and Marjorie took to social media and posted a hilarious video to say they had no idea they were splitting up.

This marriage looks rock solid. Given how the couple sticks up for each other, it will take a lot more than unfounded gossip to break this union. The road to getting here was far from easy. Steve and Marjorie have both been married twice before.

Look at the couple now with a beautiful, blended family that is only growing larger by the day. It shows how successful relationships are hard work, but the journey is utterly worthwhile.

Steve often credits Marjorie for helping him to get where he is today. While that may be true, Marjorie is more than the woman behind a successful man. She is the founder of “The Lady Loves Couture” – a lifestyle and fashion company. Marjorie and Steve also founded “The Steve & Marjorie Harvey Foundation,” which specializes in youth outreach services — fitting for a couple so devoted to kids.

The foundation mentors and supports young people on their path to becoming the next generation of responsible leaders.

The couple is known to do fun things together. Marjorie’s penchant for adventurous travel has even earned her the nickname “Queen of Slay-Cations.” She’s the force behind epic holidays. Marjorie and Steve have cruised the Mediterranean, journeyed across Italy, befriended parrots in the Dominican Republic, and climbed the Sydney Harbor Bridge.

The couple also traveled “home” to Ghana in 2019 – a journey that turned out to be an emotional pilgrimage for both.

The happy couple celebrated their 15th anniversary in 2022 – Steve’s most successful relationship to date. He penned a beautiful letter to his wife in the July-August issue of Good Housekeeping. In the letter, he said that he owes her gratitude because she changed his life.

He added that if people get tired of hearing him say that, that’s OK. It doesn’t change the facts. Steve also said that his wife is the single biggest reason outside of God’s grace that he is where he is today.

Marjorie Harvey is her husband’s biggest cheerleader. She’s described him as an absolute “sweetheart” in numerous interviews. The couple does seem to bring out the best in each other. Of course, she’s aware of how he gets a bad rap sometimes, whether unfounded or otherwise.

But the couple has learned to weather the storm. Without naming names, Marjorie has also spoken about how many people mistreated Harvey and took advantage of his “heart of gold.”

Marjorie dispelled the rumors that when the two first met Steve had simply upped and left, leaving her brokenhearted. It wasn’t as dramatic. The timing was simply not right. More than anything, they lived in different cities and organically went their separate ways. She said they knew they were perfect for each other, but neither one made any moves or big decisions. It simply wasn’t the right time.

The two were different people then and probably needed to grow into themselves more before being with each other. Marjorie believes she has “a more seasoned” Steve today who’s confident about what he wants.

Marjorie believes she’s found her soulmate. During an interview, she waxed eloquently about her husband and their beautiful relationship. Best friend, confidante, partner, entertainer – for Marjorie, Steve is all this and more.

She said that she only wishes that her sons — all three of them — will turn out to be like their father. As for her daughters, she wishes that they will find a man like Steve.

Marjorie and Steve are always in splits about something on social media. But they also enjoy taking digs at each other now and then. One of their most hilarious moments was on “The Steve Harvey Show,” where Marjorie stops by to host a segment called “I Love My Man But…”

The “but” in question was Steve’s messy habits around the house. Marjorie takes it one step further by bringing in a “friend,” Dr. Phil, to help. Steve’s face throughout the whole segment was priceless.

When asked about what made her fall for Steve Harvey, Marjorie said it was trust. In an interview for Essence, she said that going back to Steve was a no-brainer.

This wasn’t a man who had broken her heart and hurt her. She said that with Steve she could relax because she knew he wasn’t someone that had broken her heart. She also added that he knew that he could trust her with his heart. To both of them, trust is a big thing. It made it a lot easier for both of them to get to know each other.

Steve often speaks about how he needed to “man up” before dating Marjorie. His wife had a different take on the matter, which she shared in an interview.

Marjorie spoke about how her initial decision to leave had nothing to do with Steve. She wanted different things in her life. Marjorie believes that Steve has always been the man he is today. She has never considered the need for him to "man up".

Steve Harvey’s tumultuous family life proves one thing. It’s not about who came first but who stayed. Steve today is a sum total of his past experiences and what a ride it has been!

He met his first wife, Marcia, in Ohio while working as an insurance salesman and trying to break into comedy on the side. The couple married in 1981. Cracks in the marriage began to appear when Steve started spending too much time on the road for work.

The world knows her best as Steve Harvey’s first wife. Apart from that, there’s little to no information about Marica’s early life. We know she was born into a family with no money, so she worked at a department store to get by.

Steve met Marcia at a mutual friend’s reception party, and the two hit it off instantly. They got married in 1980 and became parents to twin daughters in 1982.

Marcia and Steve were married for 14 years. Like a lot of marriages, theirs wasn’t always peachy. Nobody knows what the real reasons for their divorce were, but there was enough speculation.

Some said it was because Steve was disillusioned with his job as an insurance salesman and wanted to pursue comedy. Others put it down to his philandering ways. But it doesn’t change the fact that Steve upped and left Marcia and his two daughters while his wife was pregnant with their third child.

After the couple finalized their divorce in 1994, the court ordered Steve to pay Marcia $5,100 per month, but the money never came. Marcia submitted an affidavit, after which her ex-husband was found guilty of not paying alimony or child support. By the end of it, Steve owed Marcia over $36K.

Marcia also discovered that he was already living with his second wife, Mary before their divorce was finalized. Despite everything, Marcia has managed to stay away from the public eye, focusing instead on raising her daughters and becoming a published author. She and Steve have buried the hatchet and share an amicable relationship today.

Steve allegedly began seeing Mary Shackelford much before his divorce from Marcia was finalized. Steve had found his calling as a stand-up comedian when the two first met in 1989. The couple dated for several years before Steve finally popped the question in 1996.

Most people know how the marriage and subsequent divorce in 2005 turned out. It was a messy, emotional roller coaster marked by years of vicious mud-slinging — particularly after Mary discovered the extent of Steve’s infidelity.

Steve first laid eyes on his future wife, Mary at a mall in Arlington, Texas. A young Mary worked as a makeup artist in one of the outlets then. Steve was immediately taken in and made his move. Like most Steve Harvey relationship stories, this one’s timing was all wrong too.

Mary liked Steve but wasn’t ready for a relationship. Eventually, the two began dating since the attraction and love were intense.

The Steve and Mary romance continued in earnest, even though he was fresh out of his divorce from Marcia. It seemed disrespectful to her and shocked many people who knew them well.

Regardless, Steve and Mary dated for a few years before deciding to take their relationship to the next level. The couple tied the knot in June 1996. A few years later, their son Wynton Harvey was born on July 18, 1997.

Divorce proceedings were relatively quiet initially, with Mary refusing to comment about her divorce for a long time. Things dramatically changed when she came across a letter Marjorie wrote to Steve, presumably while he was still married to her. In 2011, Mary came out with her side of the story on their marriage and divorce.

It was all downhill from there. In 2017, Mary filed a $60 million lawsuit against her ex-husband for breach of contract and even torture.

Things only got messier for Steve as a string of accusations followed. In her lawsuit, Mary Shackelford accused Steve Harvey of leaving her “destitute” after the divorce. She was homeless and penniless.

Mary also believed Steve turned her son Wynton against her and took him away without her knowledge. She alleged that their marriage fell apart due to Steve’s relationship with Marjorie Bridges. Was this woman telling the truth? Nobody knew for sure until the courts cleared everything up.

In 2011, a judge admonished Mary not only for lying to the court but for breaking a gag order and spreading false information during an ongoing trial. The judge concluded that Mary was far from destitute after the divorce – the property settlement had awarded her three homes.

She also received a monthly $40,000 in 2009 and an additional $1.5 million after. The court also found that Mary had willingly put her son on a plane to live with Harvey. As for Marjorie, the judge deemed she had nothing to do with the marriage falling apart. The reason for the divorce was “irreconcilable differences.”

“For what he’s done to me, I want to see Steve Harvey behind bars,” read Mary Shackelford’s lawsuit. Sadly for Mary, the day never came. In 2018, Steve’s legal troubles ended after a judge dismissed the $60 million lawsuit filed by his ex-wife.

Among other things, Mary had accused Steve of being a “soul murder.” She later shared that she self-medicated to deal with the stress of her divorce.

The comedian remained silent throughout the proceedings, speaking only through publicists or attorneys. But the public statement from team Harvey said everything. It called the lawsuit “frivolous,” “meritless,” and completely false.

Steve seemed unfazed through all of it. He did not let the allegations get in the way of anything and continued working, being a mogul, and posting inspirational tweets about life and relationships. The judgment dismissing the lawsuit was much-needed closure to the disaster of the last few years.

Despite a gag order issued by the court, Mary posted a series of infamous videos on YouTube. She claimed Steve abused her physically and mentally when they were married. Not only did she upload the videos, but Mary also sent links to everyone who knew or worked with her ex-husband.

Why did she talk about her divorce so publicly? The woman was evidently hurting. Mary felt she had every right. As a result, she was arrested for contempt of court and spent a month in jail.

Steve Harvey published his version of events after a Texas judge temporarily lifted the gag order on the divorce. Many people don’t know that Harvey requested the judge to do so. The comedian wanted the opportunity to respond to his ex-wife’s allegations about his cheating, leaving her penniless, taking her son away, and evicting her from the house.

The judge also ordered Mary to take down the videos and stop discussing the case. Although the videos are no longer up on YouTube, it’s safe to say the world remembers.

The divorce was messy, and neither side was blameless. Contrary to popular opinion, the fault was not all Mary’s. Steve had met Marjorie again — the one that got away — whom he eventually wanted to marry. Mary discovered he was cheating on her. Could both parties have handled things better? Probably.

Ultimately, it was Mary who got the short end of the stick. The court ruled in favor of Steve, whose career prospects and reputation remained virtually intact. Mary, on the other hand? She was vilified and dismissed as the hysterical ex-wife.

In all the drama, we seem to have forgotten that the divorce left an indelible impact on Wynton Harvey, Steve and Mary’s only son. Unfortunately, Wynton got caught up in the mess of the divorce – his name was tossed around in arguments and billion-dollar lawsuit claims.

An overwhelmed Mary asked her assistant to book tickets and put him on a plane to his father. Even though the assistant was reluctant, she eventually did just that. Steve ultimately secured parental rights and took Wynton.

The series of explosive YouTube videos caught everyone’s attention – especially Marjorie who was featured in them prominently as “the other woman”.

She didn’t take kindly to the accusations. Refusing to take things lying down, the mother of three and philanthropist retained a lawyer to sue Mary for defamation. Mary had accused Marjorie of blatantly carrying on with the affair while she and Steve were still married. The accusations left her “shocked and dismayed.” She refused to stand by while someone maligned her family.

Mary met Steve before he became “Steve Harvey.” He was just about finding his footing in the industry back then. It didn’t matter because Mary loved him for who he was.

In the nine years that they were married, Steve’s career as a comedian truly took off, setting the stage for bigger things. He became a well-known face in the country’s comedy circuit and landed several syndicated TV shows. The world doesn’t give Mary enough credit.

Steve and Marjorie don’t share biological children. Of the seven kids, four are Steve’s biological children from his previous marriages to Marcia and Mary. When Steve married Marjorie Harvey, he adopted her three children – which brings the count to seven.

While most of the children keep a low profile, their youngest, Lori is often in the news. Fans can’t get enough of the model’s Insta, where she posts pictures of her work, family, and a string of A-list boyfriends.

In January 2021, Lori made her relationship with hunky actor Michael B. Jordan Instagram official. Lori and Michael shared cutesy couple pictures online, confirming their status as the new It couple.

The two looked head over heels in love. Michael even shared in an interview that he would love the chance to compete on “Celebrity Family Feud” hosted by Steve Harvey. In November 2020, the couple was spotted at the Atlanta airport, presumably ahead of Thanksgiving at Lori’s.

Lori started dating Michael B. Jordan in 2020 and went public with the relationship soon after. What did Steve Harvey have to say about his daughter’s boyfriend?

“I like this one,” said the comedian on his talk show. Steve clarified that he might approve of his daughter’s boyfriends, but there will always be a special place of hatred for them in his heart — in case the situation ever warranted it. Classic dad vibes.

After just over a year of dating, Lori and Michael called it quits in early June 2022. Sources stated that the two broke up because they were at different stages in their lives.

Weeks before the split, they had celebrated their first anniversary on social media. The Black Panther star had shared numerous stories of the two of them, calling it a “crazy” year. Evidently, it wasn’t a crazy good year.

Following her split from Michael, Lori Harvey opened up about her new approach to dating in an interview with Bumble. She spoke about the importance of communication, transparency, and having honest conversations.

She shared how she can barely recognize her 21-year-old self from years past. Lori today seeks to date on her own terms, with no compromising on her “peace and happiness.” Her vulnerable chat came two months after her celebrated relationship with Michael ended.

Steve knows his daughter will be fine. He broke his silence on the matter by saying people break up all the time. He’s confident Lori can handle anything. Harvey also admitted that he could learn something from Lori.

About Michael B. Jordan, he said that he's still a cool guy. He added that he's sure they’ll be fine, adding that he should start learning from his children how to get out early, saying he always waited way too late.

One of the most beautiful things about the Harvey family is their love for each other. Regardless of whether you love or dislike him, Steve is a great father. Even his biggest detractors can’t take that away from him.

The love extends to all 7 of his kids – biological or adopted, it makes no difference. They’re big on building each other up, as evidenced by their social media posts. Lori Harvey is known to cheer on her parents — especially on social media — from their fun getting ready posts to vacation snaps.

The Harvey family seems to love grand gestures. In one such moment, all seven children showed up on “The Steve Harvey Show” to surprise their dad on his birthday. Not just any surprise, but to honor Steve for being a great father. Steve’s children took turns sharing some of their best moments with him. Expectedly, most of the throwbacks were hilarious.

From smoking the first cigar with him to a beautiful father-daughter dance – the Harvey kids put together a beautiful montage.

After years of trial and error, Steve found the love of his life in Marjorie. The two are madly in love, but discerning audiences have pointed out his blatant misogyny and sexist remarks over the years.

During a conversation with Joy Behar, Harvey squarely blamed women for being the reason men cheat. "Why do men cheat? It's really because there are so many women out there willing to cheat with them." Sadly, nobody is surprised at the absurdity. It is exactly what you expect from a guy with a not-so-stellar track record. Everyone hopes Steve has changed for Marjorie’s sake.

Steve Harvey has made a career out of dishing relationship advice, despite his two failed marriages. In 1996, he began hosting a morning radio show on Chicago’s WGCI called “The Steve Harvey Morning Show,” where he interacted with callers on their relationship problems.

He also began writing a ton of self-help books. His first book it called “Act like a Lady, Think like a Man: What Men Really Think About Love, Relationships, Intimacy, and Commitment” (2009). It became a best seller. Harvey was telling women (Black women, especially) what men want and how to give it to them!

There’s the fact that Mary sued Harvey for infidelity and harassment, among other things. His first wife, Marcia sought court intervention to get what was due to her – alimony and child support. Even with his true love Marjorie, the couple continues to be tabloid fodder.

The rumors are always about them getting divorced. Whether people choose to take Steve’s books or radio show seriously is their prerogative. But safe to say that most people will not turn to him for relationship advice.