Just the other day Kevin Hart was saying it was a dream come true to be able to host the Oscars and just like that, the dream is dashed. Kevin Hart has stepped down as host amid controversy over past tweets and jokes.
Here is an excerpt of the tweet explaining Hart’s decision:
I have made the choice to step down from hosting this year's Oscar's….this is because I do not want to be a distraction on a night that should be celebrated by so many amazing talented artists. I sincerely apologize to the LGBTQ community for my insensitive words from my past.
— Kevin Hart (@KevinHart4real) December 7, 2018
Seconds after he posted the above tweet he continued:
I'm sorry that I hurt people.. I am evolving and want to continue to do so. My goal is to bring people together not tear us apart. Much love & appreciation to the Academy. I hope we can meet again.
— Kevin Hart (@KevinHart4real) December 7, 2018
Before these tweets were posted, it was revealed that the Academy asked him to publicly apologize for his past comments or they would move in another direction. He said the Academy gave him an ultimatum: apologize for his old tweets or step down as Oscars host. “I passed. The reason I passed is because I’ve addressed this several times. This is not the first time this has come up,” he said. “Regardless, to the Academy, I’m thankful for the opportunity, if it goes away, no harm, no foul,” Hart added.
Losing Hart as host will put even more pressure on Donna Gigliotti, who is producing the 91st Oscars, set to air on ABC on February 24. This week’s announcement that Hart would host came relatively late in the game. Now, finding a new host to take on emcee duties could be even more difficult.
In case you missed it after Kevin Hart was announced as host of the 91st Academy Awards a litany of homophobic social media postings Hart made nearly a decade ago were dredged up and went viral. In one tweet from 2011, Hart wrote “Yo if my son comes home & try’s 2 play with my daughters doll house I’m going 2 break it over his head & say n my voice ‘stop that’s gay.’” In another reported missive posted earlier, Hart commented on someone’s profile photograph by writing it “like a gay bill board for AIDS.” There’s plenty more where that came from.
As of this writing, the Academy hasn’t issued about Hart’s departure and no decision has been made about a replacement for Hart as well.
