Earlier today, this year’s Oscar host Kevin Hart drew criticisms for past homophobic tweets. In the following hours, the story has continued developing at a frantic pace, because this is 2018 and we can’t do anything without moving at the speed of light. First, Hart posted on Instagram about his past tweets, and offered up no apology for his past statements.
The caption reads:
Stop looking for reasons to be negative… Stop searching for reasons to be angry….I swear I wish you guys could see/feel/understand the mental place I am in. I am truly happy people….there is nothing that you can do to change that…NOTHING. I work hard on a daily basis to spread positivity to all….with that being said. If u want to search my history and past and anger yourselves with what u find that is fine with me. I’m almost 40 years old and I’m in love with the man that I am becoming. You LIVE and YOU LEARN & YOU CROW & YOU MATURE. I live to Love….Please take your negative energy and put it into something constructive. Please….What’s understood should never have to be said. I LOVE EVERYBODY…..ONCE AGAIN EVERYBODY. If you choose to not believe me then that’s on you….Have a beautiful day.
Hart then posted a second video to Instagram, in which he said the Academy had asked him to apologize and he has opted not to.
He says in the video, as transcribed by Variety:
“I just got a call from the Academy and that call basically said, ‘Kevin, apologize for your tweets of old or we’re going to have to move on and find another host.’ I’m talking about the tweets from 2009 and 2010,” the 39-year-old comedian said. “I chose to pass on the apology. The reason why I passed is because I’ve addressed this several times. This is not the first time this has come up. I’ve addressed it. I’ve spoken on it. I’ve said where the rights and wrongs were. I’ve said who I am now versus who I was then. I’ve done it. I’m not going to continue to go back and tap into the days of old when I’ve moved on and I’m in a completely different place in my life.”
“The same energy that went into finding those old tweets could be the same energy put into finding the response to the questions that have been asked years after years after years. We feed internet trolls and we reward them. I’m not going to do it, man. I’m going to be me. I’m going to stand my ground. Regardless, Academy, I’m thankful and appreciative of the opportunity. If it goes away, no harm, no foul.”
The decision to not apologize did not go over well with Twitter; many in the industry called for a new host.
Wow. Just…wow. Does he realize he signed up to host the OSCARS? You wanna tweet “jokes” about gay bashing your own son I guess that’s your choice but at the very least, KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE!!! https://t.co/ztauMLKu5M
— billy eichner (@billyeichner) December 7, 2018
“Keep in mind, I’m not homophobic… Be happy. Do what you want to do. But me, as a heterosexual male, if I can prevent my son from being gay, I will,” – @KevinHart4real
— IAM (@IndyaMoore) December 6, 2018
You @KevinHart4real are NOT FIT a model, or representative to Host for the @TheAcademy which CELEBRATES & WELCOMES talent of all genders, sexualities, & ethnicitieas. you frequently reveal yourself to occupy the malevolence you treat people who don’t sexually exist like you as.
— IAM (@IndyaMoore) December 6, 2018
Finally, Hart posted on Instagram that he was stepping down from the position.
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’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
There’s not much to say here that hasn’t already been said. Hart’s comments, from nearly ten years ago, merit an apology. His unwillingness to apologize speaks more to his lack of changing than the initial tweets do. At this point, he was either going to step down or be replaced, leaving the Academy searching for a new host. Maybe Andy Samberg and Sandra Oh will wow us so much at the Golden Globes that they’ll get tapped for the big show? Who knows.
(via Variety, image: Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Universal Pictures)
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Published: Dec 7, 2018 09:30 am