Stand-up comedian and Hollywood actor Kevin Hart has put his foot down, reiterating that he will never host the Academy Awards because these particular type of events are not “comedy-friendly” any more.
In a recent interview with Sky News, the comedian specifically addressed the question regarding whether he would ever consider hosting the Oscars if given the chance again, declaring, “Whatever little hope you had, I want to destroy it right now. Those gigs aren’t good gigs for comics.”
“It’s no shot to the Oscars, no shot to the Globes or anything else,” Hart clarified, adding, “Those just aren’t comedy-friendly environments anymore.”
The Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle actor elaborated, “I think they got it right one year where it was like just a bunch of personalities acting as the hosts and that’s a nice thing. It’s a collaborative thing, different people get to be responsible for act one, act two, act three, but you know, the days of it being a room for a comic, those days are done.”
Hart also took the time to offer praise to fellow comedians who have hosted the Oscars and other entertainment industry award ceremonies in the past. “Shout out to those that have cracked the code and done it right early on, you know, the Chris Rocks of the world, the Billy Crystals of the world, the girls we’ve had like Tina Fey, Amy Poehler. Ricky Gervais.”
“There’s a lot of people that understand that if you’re not an industry comic, meaning a comic that has the relationships of all, then those rooms are very cold,” Hart admitted. “So, me doing it is, of course, at an advantage, because I know the room and for me, and familiar with so many. But, for others it’s not the same.”
He proceeded to clarify, “It’s not the gig that it was of old. It’s too much pressure on the idea of a comic and what’s jokes and not jokes. So, it’s tough.”
In December of 2018, Hart took to social media to humbly announce that he would be hosting the 2019 Academy Awards ceremony, writing, “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 it will happen when it’s suppose to.”
“I am so happy to say that the day has finally come for me to host the Oscars,” the comedian elatedly revealed. “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.”
He added, “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….I will be sure to make this years Oscars a special one. I appreciate [The Academy] for the opportunity….now it’s time to rise to the occasion. “
The comedian’s enthusiasm was short-lived, as The Guardian writer Benjamin Lee exposed the comedian in an opinion piece titled “Oscars hot Kevin Hart’s homophobia is no laughing matter,” wherein past stand-up routines and social media posts made by Hart between 2009 and 2010 were brought to light — thus sparking the ire of the LGBTQ+ community.
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“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,” wrote Hart on X (formerly Twitter) in response to the backlash.
He added, “I sincerely apologize to the LGBTQ community for my insensitive words from my past.”
Bending the knee even further, the comedian reiterated, “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.”
He then concluded, “Much love & appreciation to the Academy. I hope we can meet again.”
Interestingly, in June of 2021, Hart himself claimed that cancel culture “never bothered” him, after the woke mob not only made him bend the knee to their alarmist outrage but also successfully made him step down from hosting the Academy Awards.
“I’ve been cancelled, what, three or four times? Never bothered,” Hart claimed during an interview with The Times. “If you allow it to have an effect on you, it will. Personally? That’s not how I operate, I understand people are human. Everyone can change.”
Addressing cancel culture as a whole, the comedian illustrated, “It’s like jail. People get locked up so they can be taught a lesson. When they get out, they are supposed to be better. But if they come out and people go, ‘I’m not giving you a job because you were in jail’ — then what the f*** did I go to jail for?”
“That was my punishment,” he admitted. “How do you not give those people a shot? They’re saying that all life should be over because of a mistake? Your life should end and there should be no opportunity to change? What are you talking about?”
He then concluded, “And who are you to make that decision?”