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Lori Harvey | Source: Getty Images
Lori Harvey | Source: Getty Images

Lori Harvey’s Biological Father Has Been Absent from Her Glamorous Life

Jana Stevens
Jan 18, 2023
09:15 P.M.

Lori Harvey has not opened up about her biological father, Jim Townsend, in interviews or on social media. Her father figure became Steve Harvey after her mom married the TV personality.

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Lori Harvey proudly bares the last name of her stepdad Steve Harvey, her mother Marjorie Harvey's second husband. The man believed to be her birth father spent her whole childhood in prison on drug charges.

As the beauty CEO's only paternal influence, the comedian has proven himself an excellent stepfather. He was reportedly his youngest stepdaughter's first call when she ran into problems with the law.

Lori Harvey attends the 2022 Baby2Baby Gala presented by Paul Mitchell at Pacific Design Center on November 12, 2022, in West Hollywood, California. | Source: Getty Images

Lori Harvey attends the 2022 Baby2Baby Gala presented by Paul Mitchell at Pacific Design Center on November 12, 2022, in West Hollywood, California. | Source: Getty Images

Lori Harvey's Rumored Biological Father Is Close with Her Siblings & Shared Throwback Photo with Her

After serving 26 years, President Barak Obama gave Jim Townsend a second chance by pardoning his life sentence. Since the Memphis native walked out of prison as a free man on January 2017, he has shared many joyful reunions with his older kids, Morgan and Jason, and their families.

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Lori Harvey is notably absent from these happy snaps. Following the timeline events, with his sentencing in 1992 and the model's birth in 1997, questions arose as to whether Townsend is Lori's biological dad.

The beauty mogul did not interact with a throwback image that Townsend shared on June 6, 2022. She did not return the gesture with a post of her own, though not too much should be read into this as she uses the account to promote her work and lifestyle, rarely sharing family photos.

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Former drug kingpin Townsend has rebranded himself as Jim L. Townsend, a speaker, author, and born-again Christian.

Marjorie knew that everyone came from a broken place when dealing with a blended family.

In the early '90s, Marjorie was suspected of having some role in her spouse's criminal undertaking. However, neither the FBI nor DEA could produce the evidence, and she was never charged.

Wynton Harvey, Karli Harvey, Morgan Harvey, Marjorie Harvey, Steve Harvey, Lori Harvey, Brandi Harvey and Jason Harvey attend the 2nd annual Steve Harvey Foundation Gala at Cipriani, Wall Street on April 4, 2011, in New York City. | Source: Getty Images

Wynton Harvey, Karli Harvey, Morgan Harvey, Marjorie Harvey, Steve Harvey, Lori Harvey, Brandi Harvey and Jason Harvey attend the 2nd annual Steve Harvey Foundation Gala at Cipriani, Wall Street on April 4, 2011, in New York City. | Source: Getty Images

Lori Harvey & Her Siblings Initially Opposed Their Mom Marrying Steve Harvey

When Lori was ten, her mom Marjorie remarried Steve Harvey, who adopted her and her siblings. It was the third marriage for the comedian, who brought four children of his own into the marriage.

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The happy couple revealed that their combined troupe of seven children was not as keen on their 2007 union from the start. The actor responded in his signature bold style, telling them to deal with it.

Marjorie knew that everyone came from a broken place when dealing with a blended family. She told the children that they were all included, assuring them they would have access to their parents, "Whatever you didn't have before, don't let that interfere with what you can have now."

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Steve Harvey Stepped up in the Absence of Lori Harvey's Real Dad

Steve Harvey became a true father to Marjorie's children. According to a news report, Lori was FaceTimeing the "Straight Talk, No Chaser" author when the police arrived on the scene of a car accident that she got into back in October 2021.

After her breakup with Michael B. Jordan in mid- 2022, her stepdad came to be a defense against an internet that was largely Team MBJ by saying in his podcast that he loves his daughter and he is "1000 present" team Lori.

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Being the kid of a celebrity opened a whole different world to Lori. At twenty, she came out into society at the prestigious 25th annual Bal des Debutantes in Paris in November 2017, wearing an haute couture Elie Saab gown.

Her stepbrother Wynton Harvey accompanied her to the event where Ava Phillippe, Reese Witherspoon's daughter, was also introduced into high society. The "Family Feud" host tweeted photos of his children dancing, saying he is proud of the "adults they have become."

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