Kevin Hart Steps Down From Hosting 2019 Oscars, Issues An Apology To The LGBTQ+ Community!

If you have been keeping up with news concerning the 2019 Oscars, you would know about Kevin Hart’s homophobic tweets recently resurfacing. Of course, it led to a backlash and now the comedian won’t be hosting the 2019 Oscars. Who will take his place?

Kevin Hart is one of the most successful comedians currently working in the industry. It made sense for the Academy to select him as the host especially after the dwindling ratings from past years. However, once the announcement was made, rampant homophobia from Hart’s past (2009-2011) resurfaced online.

The reveal led people to take sides. There were those who wanted him to apologize and step down as the host while others blamed society for being too sensitive and excused Hart’s tweets as jokes.

Look, I’m all for comedians making people laugh. But when you write such tweets on a public platform then you need to be ready for the consequences even if they occur a decade later. Also, if your jokes need to be homophobic, sexist, racist or make use of any other kind of hurtful discrimination to be funny, then yeah, you need to work on your content.

Considering how long it took for Hart to apologize, some might still think his current apology was a PR move. When it comes to public figures like Hart you can never be sure. Maybe he has grown as a human and understands why his tweets were bad or he has learned to keep such opinions to himself due to backlash. There is a difference between the two. Remember the Shadowhunters debacle?

All the best to Hart if he has indeed changed for the better.

Who do you think should take Hart’s place? I wouldn’t mind seeing Tiffany Haddish or Hannah Gadsby take the stage. How about Key and Peele? Tina Fey and Amy Poehler? Wanda Sykes? There are many comedians out there. Here’s to hoping the Academy selects someone far less problematic than Hart to host the 2019 Oscars. The ceremony will take place on February 24, 2019.

Also, I do think organizations like the Academy need to do better background checks.

Feel free to share your thoughts with us.

Author: Farid-ul-Haq

Farid has a Double Masters in Psychology and Biotechnology as well as an M.Phil in Molecular Genetics. He is the author of numerous books including Missing in Somerville, and The Game Master of Somerville. He gives us insight into comics, books, TV shows, anime/manga, video games, and movies.

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