Comedian and actor Kevin Hart has a few hours ago said he will no longer be the host of 2019 Oscars, after criticisms about past homophobic comments.
Hart who is in Sydney Australia, for a show made the announcement in several tweets Friday morning. He said:
“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.. 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.
The New York Times reported that Mr. Hart was in trouble because several of his tweets and comments — most of them several years old — used the word “gay” as an insult or were otherwise deemed homophobic.
In his initial response hours before stepping down, Mr. Hart did not apologise. “Guys, I’m almost 40 years old,” he said in a video. “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 or explain the past, then do you. I’m the wrong guy, man. I’m in a great place. A great mature place where all I do is spread positivity.”
This is also coming a few days where he said he has waited for years to have the opportunity to host the Oscars, and cannot believe that opportunity has been given to him to host the 2019 edition and he cannot contain his excitement.
Taking to his Instagram page he had this to say:
“For years I have been asked if I would ever Host the Oscars and my answer was always the same. I said that it would be the opportunity of a lifetime for me as a comedian and that I will happen when its supposed 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…
To be able to join the Legendary list of host that have graced that stage is unbelievable.”
…But from announcing that he was going to be the host and then stepping down as the host was damn short though??