Kevin Hart announced last week that he will no longer host the 2019 Academy Awards after he refused to apologize for posting anti-gay tweets years ago that had recently resurfaced even though he has apologised to the LGBTIQ community.
The comedian 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.”
“I’m sorry that I hurt people,” he added Thursday night. “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.”
Hart is currently touring Australia and New Zealand in his one-man comedy show that is breaking box office records.
The controversy over Hart’s tweets began earlier this week following the announcement that he would host the upcoming Academy Awards. Some of the tweets dating back years were deleted, but screenshots revealed several posts using anti-gay language and repeated use of the words “fag” and “homo.”
After seeing this @benfraserlee tweet, I did a search for every time Kevin Hart tweeted “fag,” “homo,” or “gay.” It was…a lot. And he seems to have basically stopped tweeting those words after 2011 — i.e. the year his first stand-up movie became a hit. https://t.co/P8nTOilFgx pic.twitter.com/6uzPhnvt4F
— Adam B. Vary (@adambvary) December 5, 2018
Hart’s exit means the award show is now once again without a host with a little more than two months until the live awards telecast.
Australian comedian Hannah Gadsby has been touted as a potential replacement to host the Oscars but no word as yet from the academy.
The Tasmanian comedian stole the show at a lacklustre Emmy Awards in September a speech she made at The Hollywood Reporter’s Women in Entertainment Gala last week – in which she called out Hollywood’s “good men” for mansplaining endemic misogyny – also went viral.
The last Australian to host the Oscars was Hugh Jackman in 2009. Paul Hogan did it in 1987.
Last Updated on Dec 10, 2018
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