Kevin Hart decided to step down as the host of the 2019 Oscars following the uproar caused by offensive tweets from his past that resurfaced. In a tweet on Thursday night, the comedian announced his withdrawal from hosting duties, expressing his desire not to overshadow the celebration of talented artists on the big night. Hart also issued a heartfelt apology to the LGBTQ community for his past insensitive remarks.
Initially reluctant to apologize, Hart shared in an Instagram video that the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences had given him an ultimatum to either apologize for his comments or step down as host. In the video, Hart mentioned his previous efforts to address the issue and stated that he chose to forego the apology.
However, realizing the impact of his actions, Hart eventually backtracked on his decision, offering a sincere apology to the LGBTQ community and resigning as the Oscars host. This turn of events unfolded within a span of just a few hours on Thursday night.
The comic declared his intention to resign and followed it up with a formal apology to the LGBTQ community for his use of ‘offensive language’.
However, his apology was untimely as he had already rejected the ultimatum from the Academy, which stated that he needed to apologize or they would find a new host.
I recently received a call from the Academy informing me that I needed to apologize for some old tweets from 2009 and 2010, or they would need to find a new host for the event. I shared this news in an Instagram video while on tour in Australia for The Kevin Hart Irresponsible Tour.
During a stand-up routine in 2010, he confessed that one of his greatest fears was the possibility of his son being gay. When faced with calls to apologize for his past anti-gay comments resurfacing from 2009 to 2011, he chose not to, stating that he had already addressed the issue multiple times and has since grown and evolved as a person.
However, the comedian’s refusal to acknowledge the hurtful nature of his previous tweets, including one where he threatened to break a dollhouse over his son’s head if he played with it, led to widespread criticism and calls for him to step down from his role as host of the upcoming Academy Awards.
In response, he defiantly told critics to stop being negative and claimed that he wouldn’t let the controversy affect him, emphasizing that people change and grow over time. Despite his claims of love for everyone, his lack of remorse for his past actions stirred up further backlash from advocacy groups such as GLAAD, who reached out to the Oscars broadcaster and the Academy to address his history of anti-LGBTQ rhetoric.
Hart is currently down under in Australia as part of his The Kevin Hart Irresponsible Tour. He recently snapped a picture on Thursday while filming an Instagram video during his visit.
In a tweet from 2009 that has since been removed, Hart showcased his tendency to joke in a derogatory manner towards the LGBTQ+ community.
Hart stood firm in his decision not to apologize for a tweet from 2011 where he jokingly mentioned that he would describe playing with a doll house as “gay” to his son.
Hart stopped posting homophobic tweets in 2011 and his jokes about homosexuality were part of his stand-up routine. In his 2010 special Seriously Funny, he expressed fear of his son being gay. Although he claimed he wasn’t homophobic, he stated that he would try to prevent his son from being gay if he could. Despite initially refusing to apologize, Hart eventually did on Thursday night, expressing his desire to evolve and bring people together. He tweeted, “I’m sorry for hurting people. I want to keep evolving and bringing people together. Much love to the Academy. Hopefully we can meet again.”
On Tuesday, Hart shared some exciting news on Instagram, revealing that he would be stepping up to host the Oscars in a heartfelt post.
Hart recently posted a video on Instagram from his tour in Australia, stating that he would not be apologizing for his previous comments despite pressure from the academy. This decision did not sit well with comedian Billy Eichner and others on social media, who expressed disappointment with Hart’s response. Eichner highlighted the need for a genuine apology, pointing out ongoing issues with how Hollywood treats gay men. Despite the backlash, the film academy had announced Hart as the host for the upcoming February ceremony.
In another Instagram post, Hart expressed his excitement about hosting the Oscars, sharing that it had been a long-time goal for him. The news brought him immense joy, and he felt honored to join the ranks of legendary hosts who have graced the Oscars stage. Hart’s heartfelt post mentioned his late mother, who he believed would be proud of his achievement.
This isn’t the first time an Oscars host has faced backlash for making anti-gay remarks. In 2012, producer Brett Ratner, who was working with host Eddie Murphy, resigned from his role after using a gay slur during a film screening. Murphy also stepped down shortly after, highlighting the repercussions of offensive comments in the entertainment industry.
During a comedy routine in 2010, he expressed his concern about one of his greatest fears being the possibility of his son being gay as he grows up. Hart was seen alongside his wife, Eniko Parrish, at the Oscars in 2016.
