Kevin Hart has stepped down as host of the 2019 Oscars after he claimed he was pressured by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to apologize for past homophobic comments.
This comes just two days after he announced he was hosting the 2019 Academy Awards.
“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” Hart wrote on Twitter.
After Hart was announced as the host for the Oscars, multiple celebrities and other critics noted some of his past, since-deleted tweets such as, “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.’”
According to The Hollywood Reporter noted, Hart had previously called someone a “fat faced fag” and remarked that someone’s profile pic looked “like a gay billboard for AIDS.”
See some of the old tweets below….
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
