Kevin Hart steps down as Oscar host after facing criticism for anti-gay tweets
Comedian Kevin Hart on Thursday stepped down as host for the upcoming Academy Awards after anti-gay tweets and comments made during previous stand-up routines resurfaced.
“I have made the choice to step down from hosting this year’s Oscar’s,” Hart wrote on Twitter. “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.”
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
He added that he was sorry to the people who were hurt by his comments.
“I am evolving and want to continue to do so. My goal is to bring people together not tear us apart,” he wrote. “Much love & appreciation to the Academy. I hope we can meet again.”
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
The tweets, many of which have been deleted, are from between 2009 and 2011 and included derogatory language referring to gay people and sexuality, CNN reported.
{mosads}“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,’” one now-deleted tweet reportedly read.
His exit from the awards show comes just two days after he was announced as the host of the upcoming 91st annual Oscars ceremony.
Hart’s apology also came as a reversal after her originally said Thursday night that he declined to apologize when asked by the Academy to do so, saying that he would step down rather than contribute to “feeding the internet trolls.”
“The reason why I passed is because I’ve addressed this several times,” Hart said in an Instagram video. ”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 space in my life.”
Hart initially defended himself by saying the tweets were years old and that “people change, grow, evolve as they get older.”
“My team calls me, ‘Oh my God, Kevin, everyone’s upset by tweets you did years ago,’” Hart said on Instagram. “Guys, I’m nearly 40 years old. If you don’t believe that people change, grow, evolve as they get older, I don’t know what to tell you. If you want to hold people in a position where they always have to justify the past, do you. I’m the wrong guy, man.”
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