Lil Rel Howery Recalls His ‘Emotional’ Talk with Cory Hardrict in a Sports Bar amid His Divorce: ‘Tears Coming Out’

Lil Rel Howry and Cory Hardrict have a bond that runs deep.

During a panel at the 7th Annual Black Love Summit on Oct. 12, the comedian, 44, opened up about his friendship with Hardrict and how their genuine friendship has given them the room to be vulnerable after becoming “homies more recently.”

“I knew you were going through some things,” Howry recalled to Hardrict, 44. “I just wanted to reach out to another dad, another brother, and we just talked. We met at one of the little sports bars I like to go to. We just sat there, and we just talked.”

The Get Out alum told PEOPLE that one of his favorite qualities about Hardrict is “how much he loves his children.” At the time of their conversation, the Divorce in the Black actor was going through a divorce with his ex-wife Tia Mowry, with whom he shares son Cree, 13, and daughter, Cairo, 6.

“No matter what us adults are going through, we’ve got to consider how they’re seeing it. I just thought it was beautiful, just with Black men [talking about their children],” Howry continued. “We’re in a sports bar having an emotional conversation. Trying to watch the Lakers, tears coming out of [our eyes]. We are dads.”

Hardrict added, “It was just me and you. If somebody walked by that window, they’d [be like], ‘What’s going on in here?’ [But it was] just us.”

In October 2023, Mowry announced that she and Hardrict would be separating after 14 years of marriage in a heartfelt post shared to Instagram.

“I have always been honest with my fans, and today is no different. I wanted to share that Cory and I have decided to go our separate ways,” she wrote alongside a black-and-white photo of the couple. “These decisions are never easy, and not without sadness. We will maintain a friendship as we co-parent our beautiful children.”

The actress continued, “I am grateful for all the happy times we had together and want to thank my friends, family and fans for your love and support as we start this new chapter moving forward in our lives.”

The former couple later finalized the nature of their divorce six months after their announcement.