Comedian Kevin Hart was only the host of the upcoming Oscars for a few short days, until his past anti-LGBTQ remarks resurfaced, leaving the comedian out of the job.<\/b>
\nComedian Kevin Hart was only the host of the upcoming Oscars for a few short days, until his past anti-LGBTQ remarks resurfaced, leaving the comedian out of the job.
Sharing a photo of the Academy Award statue, the 39-year-old announced his \u201copportunity of a lifetime\u201d hosting the 2019 Oscars.
For years I have been asked if I would ever Host the Oscars and my answer was always the same\u2026 I said that it would be the opportunity of a lifetime for me as a comedian and that it will happen when it\u2019s suppose to. I am so happy to say that the day has finally come for me to host the Oscars. I am blown away simply because this has been a goal on my list for a long time\u2026. To be able to join the legendary list of host that have graced that stage is unbelievable. I know my mom is smiling from ear to ear right now. I want to thank my family\/friends\/fans for supporting me & riding with me all this time\u2026. I will be sure to make this years Oscars a special one. I appreciate the @TheAcademy for the opportunity \u2026.now it\u2019s time to rise to the occasion #Oscars
A post shared by Kevin Hart (@kevinhart4real) on Dec 4,2018 at 5:01pm PST
Days later, the \u201cJumanji: Welcome to the Jungle\u201d star announced that he will be stepping down from the hosting gig amid year-old tweets that are stirring up controversy.
Words like \u201chomo\u201d and \u201cgay\u201d were used in some of Hart\u2019s since-deleted tweets from 2011, which have resurfaced, Fox News reported.
\u201cIf I can prevent my son from being gay, I will,\u201d Hart said in a stand-up in 2010.
Hart apologized early Friday in a tweet that he made the choice to step down because \u201cI do not want to be a distraction on a night that should be celebrated by so many amazing talented artists,\u201d adding an apology to the LGBTQ community.
I have made the choice to step down from hosting this year’s Oscar’s\u2026.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.
\u2014 Kevin Hart (@KevinHart4real) December 7,2018
\u201cI\u2019m 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,\u201d Hart wrote in another tweet.
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.
\u2014 Kevin Hart (@KevinHart4real) December 7,2018
GLAAD, an organization founded by LGBT people in the media, wrote on Twitter Thursday that they reached out to Hart, along with ABC Network and The Academy, to \u201cdiscuss Kevin\u2019s anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and record as well as opportunities for positive LGBTQ inclusion on the Oscars stage.\u201d
Firing back at the \u201cnegative energy,\u201d Hart responded on Thursday in a video saying, \u201cOur world is becoming beyond crazy,\u201d adding that he is \u201cnot going to let the craziness frustrate me or anger me.\u201d
\u201cMy team calls me, \u2018Oh my, God, Kevin, this world is upset about tweets you did years ago.\u2019 Guys, I\u2019m almost 40 years old. If you don\u2019t believe that people change, grow, evolve as they get older, I don\u2019t know what to tell you. If you want to hold people in a position where they always have to justify or explain their past, then do you. I\u2019m the wrong guy, man. I\u2019m in a great place, a great mature place, where all I do is spread positivity.\u201d
Stop looking for reasons to be negative\u2026 Stop searching for reasons to be angry\u2026. I swear I wish you guys could see\/feel\/understand the mental place that I am in. I am truly happy people\u2026.there is nothing that you can do to change that\u2026 NOTHING. I work hard on a daily basis to spread positivity to all\u2026.with that being said. If u want to search my history or past and anger yourselves with what u find that is fine with me. I\u2019m almost 40 years old and I\u2019m in love with the man that I am becoming. You LIVE and YOU LEARN & YOU GROW & YOU MATURE. I live to Love\u2026. Please take your negative energy and put it into something constructive. Please\u2026. What\u2019s understood should never have to be said. I LOVE EVERYBODY\u2026.. ONCE AGAIN EVERYBODY. If you choose to not believe me then that\u2019s on you\u2026. Have a beautiful day
A post shared by Kevin Hart (@kevinhart4real) on Dec 6,2018 at 3:20pm PST
The same day, the comedian posted another video explaining The Academy asked him to apologize for his old tweets or else they\u2019d have to find a new host, adding that he\u2019s endlessly addressed the comments and he\u2019s \u201cnot going to continue to go back and tap into the days of old when I\u2019ve moved on.\u201d
\u201cWe feed into the Internet trolls and we reward them, I\u2019m not going to do it, man. I\u2019m going to be me, and stand my ground.\u201d
I know who I am & so do the people closest to me. #LiveLoveLaugh
A post shared by Kevin Hart (@kevinhart4real) on Dec 6,2018 at 7:31pm PST
The Oscars is a night where many celebrities come together to celebrate box office achievements, with a sprinkle of politically charged performances, usually aimed at President Donald Trump.
Hart would have taken over the host role from late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel, who took stabs at the president while hosting in 2018 .
Over the years, the Oscars has lost momentum as their ratings have steadily declined \u2014 34.4 million viewers in 2016 to 32.9 million viewers\u2028 in 2017 \u2014 but the show goes on as The Academy Awards will air on February 24,2019.<\/p>\n