Steve Harvey blasted for making fun of Flint water crisis

June 15 (UPI) -- Comedian and talk show host Steve Harvey stirred controversy by using the Flint water crisis to mock a Flint, Mich. resident who called into his radio program.

The caller told Harvey, a Cleveland Cavaliers fan, that the city didn't deserve another NBA championship. Harvey responded by insulting Flint.

"You from Flint? That's why y'all ain't even got clean water. When the last time you touched water and it didn't have lead in it?" Harvey said.

In a recording of the show posted to Facebook, Harvey's co-hosts jokingly said he went too far.

"I wasn't talking about the city of Flint," Harvey told them. "I was talking about him..."He gone call in and say Cleveland don't deserve jack and he over there bathing in all that silver water."

Then Harvey had one last thing to say to the caller: "Enjoy your nice brown glass of water."

Fifth Ward Flint City Councilman Wantwaz Davis said Harvey's comments were not surprising.

The councilman said that when Harvey visited Flint for a special episode of his afternoon talk show, the comedian made light of the situation and told people they should just move to another town.

"That was beyond reality," Davis told MLive. "How could Harvey tell these poverty-stricken people with no hope and no job to just pack up and leave?"

Despite the criticism, Harvey defended his joke.

"The caller and I were talking trash about our teams and cities. "SIMPLY TRASH TALKING ABOUT SPORTS," Harvey said in a statement.

Nine-year-old Amariyanna Copeny – known on Twitter as "Little Miss Flint" - posted a video telling Harvey he needs to apologize and "maybe we'll forgive you."

Flint is not a joke @IAmSteveHarvey @SteveHarveyFM please apologize #FlintWaterCrisis #Flint #FlintLivesMatter #PeopleDied pic.twitter.com/uOSPQsOkFR

— Little Miss Flint (@LittleMissFlint) June 14, 2017