Kevin Hart Says He is Stepped Down From Oscar Hosting
Kevin Hart has stepped down following an outcry over past homophobic tweets. It’s not the first time an Oscars host has been potentially derailed by anti-gay remarks. Ahead of the 2012 Academy Awards, producer Brett Ratner, who had been paired with host Eddie Murphy, resigned days after using a gay slur at a film screening.
Capping a swift fallout, Mr. Hart wrote on Twitter just after midnight on Friday that he was withdrawing as Oscars host because he didn’t want to be a distraction. “I sincerely apologize to the LGBTQ community for my insensitive words from my past,” Kevin Hart tweeted.
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
“I chose to pass on the apology,” Kevin Hart said. “The reason why I passed is because I’ve addressed this several times.”The film academy didn’t respond to messages Thursday evening.In an earlier post on Thursday, Mr. Hart wrote on Instagram that critics should “stop being negative” about his earlier anti-gay remarks.
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
“I’m almost 40 years old. If you don’t believe that people change, grow, evolve? I don’t know what to tell you,” said Mr. Hart, who added, in all-caps- “I love everybody.” “Keep in mind, I’m not homophobic, I have nothing against gay people, do what you want to do, but me, being a heterosexual male, if I can prevent my son from being gay, I will,” he said.
GLAAD, the advocacy group for LGBTQ rights, had said on Thursday that it reached out to Oscars broadcaster ABC, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences and Hart’s management to “discuss Kevin’s anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and record.” Actress Jamie Lee Curtis wrote: “Homophobia is not positivity.” Comedian and actor Billy Eichner said “a simple, authentic apology showing any bit of understanding or remorse would have been so simple.”