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Home · Celebrity

Kevin Hart Steps Down As Oscars Host: 'I Sincerely Apologize'

The comedian was slated to become the fifth Black performer ever to have the honors.
Kevin Hart Steps Down As Oscars Host: ‘I Sincerely Apologize’
Getty/WireImage
By Joi-Marie McKenzie · Updated October 23, 2020
Just days after confirming that he’d be the fifth Black performer to host the 91st annual Academy Awards next year, Kevin Hart has now announced he’s stepping down. The move comes after mounting pressure from the LGBTQ community after old tweets surfaced that were decidedly anti-gay, coupled with comments made during his past stand-up comedy routines. And while some tweets had been deleted by Thursday, Hart tried to dismiss the controversy in a video shared on Instagram Thursday. He began a lengthy caption of that video with, “Stop looking for reasons to be negative.”
View this post on Instagram

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 that 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 or 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 GROW & 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

A post shared by Kevin Hart (@kevinhart4real) on Dec 6, 2018 at 3:20pm PST

“My team calls me, ‘Oh my God, Kevin, everyone’s upset by tweets you did years ago,’” he said shirtless in that video. “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.” A second video surfaced hours later, with Hart telling his fans that the Academy called to tell him to apologize or “we’re going to have to move on and find another host.”
View this post on Instagram

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

In the video, Hart says that he wouldn’t apologize again because “I’ve addressed this several times.” “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 space in my life,” he said, calling his critics “internet trolls.” It only took two hours for Hart to reveal that he’d stepped down — in yet another post on social media.

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
“I have made the choice to step down from hosting this year’s Oscar’s,” he tweeted Thursday. “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.” Hart continued, “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.” So far, the Academy hasn’t addressed the controversy. The 91st annual Academy Awards will be held on February 24, 2019.
TOPICS:  Kevin Hart
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