As we discussed yesterday, we’re entering into unprecedented territory for the Oscar-hosting job. Only once in recent Academy history has a host been named this late in the Oscar season. The Academy thought they had it last month – they did a rollout for Kevin Hart, and they were probably patting themselves on the back for choosing an African-American man who is one of the most popular comedians in America. The problem is that, like, no one in the Academy’s Board of Directors thought to do any opposition research on Hart, and within 24 hours, Hart was embroiled in a bummer controversy about his old homophobic tweets (not to mention his homophobic comedy routines). It could have been a teachable moment where Hart apologized and promised to do better in the future. It ended with Hart quitting the Oscar-hosting job in a fit of pique. And the Academy has spent the last month throwing names at the wall, trying to figure out who to hire to bring in younger viewers. Except… now Kevin Hart might come back? What?
Kevin Hart says he is still thinking about hosting the 2019 Oscars after fellow comedian Ellen DeGeneres told him she reached out to the Academy of Motion Pictures on his behalf and they said they still wanted him for the job. The comedian said he is “evaluating” retaking the hosting job during an episode of Ellen DeGeneres’ talk show that is set to air Friday — about a month after he suddenly quit the gig when some decade-old homophobic tweets he sent resurfaced online.
“I called the Academy today because I really want you to host the Oscars,” DeGeneres said.
“We want him to host, whatever we can do, we’d be thrilled,” DeGeneres said The Academy told her. “The Academy is saying what can we do to make this happen.”
He told DeGeneres that he was still angry about how the tweets were dredged up less than a day after he was formally given the hosting job in December. In one of the tweets, sent in 2011, Hart wrote: “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.” After the tweets resurfaced, Hart said in an Instagram video that the Academy asked him to apologize and, instead, he stepped down from hosting. “I just got a call from the Academy and that call basically said, ‘Kevin, apologize for your tweets of old or we’re going to have to move on and find another host,’” Hart said in the December video. “I chose to pass on the apology.”
During his “Ellen” appearance, Hart said he refused to apologize because he had done so in the past and did not want to feed people who were criticizing him online. He said he didn’t have a “homophobic bone” in his body.
“This is stuff I have addressed,” Hart said. “I’m not going to pay it any mind because when you feed into that stuff you only add more fuel to the fire.”
But at the end of his appearance, Hart ultimately said he would consider taking the hosting job back.
“You have put a lot of things on my mind,” he said. “Leaving here, I’m promising you I’m evaluating this conversation … Let me assess, just sit in the space and really think.”
The Academy did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
This is something I fundamentally never understood about the Hart-Academy beef: he was mad at the Academy because… people online simply brought up his old, un-deleted tweets and comedy routines (which he had never substantively apologized for, regardless of what he says now). The Academy doesn’t control the internet! I guess he’s mad that the Academy didn’t have his back when the old tweets surfaced, but clearly, THEY DID. All they asked for was an apology and then they would have backed him completely. He was the one who had a f–king tantrum about it. Anyway, I know Ellen likes to think she speaks for all LGBTQ people, but I really don’t think anyone – especially not LGBTQ peeps – want to see Hart host the Oscars at this point.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
No, just no. He used the f-word as a slur and an insult. He needs to apologize, he needs to make amends, and he needs to work on being a better person.
FORREAL.
Everyone (Hart, DeGeneres, whomever else) keeps saying oh he apologized and wants to move on but where TF was this apology???
vulture had an article where they pointed out that though he has addressed it, he has never actually apologized.
which is simply because he still doesn’t see anything wrong with what he said, he just thinks people are too sensitive for those jokes and that’s why he doesn’t make them anymore.
basically he’s handling this EXACTLY how he handled cheating on his pregnant wife.
Unpopular opinion here but I think he would be great at it and I think having him host WILL bring in a younger, broader audience which is ultimately what they seem to want
Let’s see how is apology tour goes
Shows what your priorities are!
what do you think my priorities are since you can tell based on a comment?
What about all the white women that have tweeted horribly offensive stuff as well and are not called out on it? Sure lets get the black man tho
@Lorena: I’m SICK TO DEF of that conflating…Y’all be trying to push JC off the cross to co-sign on WAY too many “Brothas” horrible and CONSISTENT behavior….using the…”Well White…yada…yada…yada did it and got away with it but y’all gone go after the Black man…”
That sentiment can go right along with Kevin AND his ilk…in the TRASH!
Bringing in a younger audience? That’s more important than calling out homophonic comments? Gross morals.
Not saying anyone should get away with it, I just dont think that we should cancel everyone that said dumb shit especially when they have a platform to do better
Nope. People need to be held accountable. This isn’t about ratings, though sadly this is what some will prioritize.
…versus LGBT+ POC who are impacted by this, too? Yeah, I agree that white women should be called out, but real progressivism means everybody gets called out for this shit, not that everybody has the white man’s right to behave like a dick and get away with it scot-free.
Nobody is cancelling him over the original tweets specifically. it’s the doubling down on it and then refusing to acknowledge any problem that’s getting him shit. If he wants to admit he screwed up and will try to do better, fine. Let him recoup his losses. But if you’re position is that everybody else is wrong, it’s not my job to tolerate other people’s intolerance.
The problem is that he *isn’t* doing better, in any way. He never substantively apologized as the writer mentions, and he’s never addressed the idea that his espoused homophobia toward his children reflects a very real and very dangerous trope within the African American community. When we hear about parents maiming and killing their children trying to “exorcise” the gay away or “beat the swish” out of them, when we have the stories of traumatized victims of conversion therapy, and when other black celebrities are out here touting the same harmful message, it behooves one of the most famous members of our community to deliver a serious, sincere, and comprehensive apology for homophobic statements and beliefs that are still culturally nurtured.
I’m also still ultra-pissed that he was chosen for the hosting gig like a week after his tantrum about people’s dismay at the “Cowboys and Indians” themed party he threw for his one year old. Because the genocide of First Nations peoples was just a game we played as kids, so quit overreacting! (Which was his for real, lame-ass argument to the “haters”. Smdh)
agreed with you 100%. I used to be a big fan of his work ethic. Followed him on instagram and everything. I’ll cop to feeling uncomfortable at his homophobic jokes – yes, they’ve always been in his routines – but chalked it up to him not knowing better.
THen the cowboys and indians bday party happened… and his response to being called out for that, and for his homophobia, cancelled him for me forever. When you (rightly) get called out for damaging behavior, it’s really darn easy to say “you know what, you’re right. I screwed up and I will do better from now on.” Honestly, how hard is that? But no, he wants all the trappings of fame with none of the responsability. Pass.
I’ve said stupid stuff. I’ve been mean, biased, rude and demeaning. Because at the time, I didn’t know better. Now I do. Surely we MUST allow people to learn, especially from their mistakes. I’m not convinced we have the right to disallow someone their livelihood because they were idiots in the past. We learn from the past, and we move forward. Only ONE was perfect. The rest of us….maybe we can reduce the hatred in the world by understanding and appreciating we are ALL trying to grow, learn, do better and move forward? Now, if he were to continue down that path and continue shaming and making derogatory remarks, by all means, let’s not pay to go see him and avoid his work (tho he was hilarious in Jumanjji). How long ago did all this happen? Where are his apologies and appreciation for being taught just how wrong his behaviour is? If he’s shown his work (heart, body, mind and soul work)…then we need to move on, forgive the crap and hold him accountable for his stuff NOW. I say let him host, and if he’s an idiot for one single second, THEN he’s cancelled….forever and a day.
How has he learned? How has he grown? It was just a little over a month ago that Hart was vociferously defending his child’s Cowboys and Indians-themed party even as indigenous people were calling him out on his grossly offensive shit.
And this isn’t about saying “stupid stuff”, this is about hate language towards a marginalized community. Did I say dumb stuff as a KID (keep in mind that Kevin Hart is a grown-ass man, almost 40 years old)? SURE. But was I running around using the f-word to refer to gay people? Nope. Never once. I’m 40 years old and I’ve known my whole life that the n-word and the f-word are wrong to say. I mean, the dude joked about AIDS and basically endorsed violence against gay people. Come on. We need to stop giving celebrities a free pass on this shit.
As much as he’s allowed to play the victim, offer insincere “Sorry if you were offended” style apologies, and refuse to engage in meaningful discussion about the damage that his “jokes” cause in both his own home and in the wider world, we’re allowed to say that we’ll pass.
He can make all the mistakes he wants, and learn at his own pace. But I have yet to see evidence of what he’s learned beyond the fact that some of us go out of our way to condone expressions of internalized homophobia/bigotry against other PoC/misogyny and misogynoir because we are so desperate to see people from our community shine. He’s winning, he’s still awful, and that sucks.
You’re not a celebrity with a massive audience, though. That’s the big issue that needs to be at the center of discussions like this. Context matters. Audience matters. Social power matters. Kevin Hart isn’t just some random dude performing at a lame comedy club getting booed. He has a massive public stage. His words have an impact.
Keep in mind when you’re defending him that this isn’t just a “white people get away with shit issue.” Hate crimes are on the rise across the board against LGBT+, but POC suffer the worst of it. Back in 2011, the reports from GLAAD revealed that more than 87% of the people murdered under identified by LGBT+ hate crime where POC. The numbers are even worse for trans individuals, especially black transwomen. And that was eight years ago, before Trump took office, before the Orlando club shootings, before the rise of white nationalism to the forefront of US politics. We can’t turn this an oversimplified version of, “Black men can’t get away with nothing while white people go free” and not pretend that his words don’t impact people in the black community.
“Disallow someone their livelihood?”
All the eye rolls in the world for this tired illogical argument. And thanks for throwing Jesus in there, too. It makes it really easy to see where your priorities are. Isn’t that what the evangelicals use to excuse the orange menace’s discretions? Sorry, no. I believe that everyone has an obligation to be a decent human being independent of religious beliefs, so using a religious basis for your argument doesn’t persuade me.
I’m sorry, but if I screw up at work and lose my job, that’s on me. He is a public figure, therefore his job is to not be an asshole so people will still hire him, and guess what? He effed up. End of. No one is “disallowing” anything. Especially considering that the story states the academy still wants him!! Reading is fundamental.
I have no doubt that he went on her show and said this in order to gauge the public’s reaction, in other words positive feedback or negative feedback, so he could decide if he wanted to accept the hosting gig or not. I must say I’m surprised the Academy’s hosting offer is still on the table.
I agree with osito, lw, kitten, etc. and I cancelled Ellen a long time ago. This is just market research. Go away Kevin and Ellen. Good luck Academy. How about a robot since no human wants to do it?
Yes, WTF is Ellen doing? I truly don’t get why she is standing up for him on this issue in particular.
I don’t get why he couldn’t have used this as an opportunity to apologize and show public support for lgbtq community. Instead he doubled down on the no apology.
I hated this routine on SNL last year as well – I found it sexist and way too wrapped up in old norms about women’s roles. Plus, he treats his wife like shit. He’s not a good person.
His wife knew what she was signing up for when she got him. She’d already been his side piece for years and seen how he treated his first wife. She doesn’t need you checking for her. She’s working on getting her sit down money. She’s chilling.
I think there’s room for both observations: KH is a terrible person with questionable values, *and* his wife is A-OK with it in order to achieve her goals. The two aren’t mutually exclusive. And I think we should all feel a little sorry for her, though I suspect her settlement money will be tight and more than enough to dry her tears when all is said and done.
Because he genuinely thinks hate speech is A-OK.
It would be so simple to actually listen, and come out with an apology. I’m sure he could get some PR help with wording it. All this would have gone away back then. But no. He thinks he’s right. Screw that guy.
Of course he does – he has very few examples of anyone, men in particular, of being held accountable for the vile, hateful things they say. The current inhabitant of the White House being a perfect example. If the Academy can find a way to finesse this to let him come back, they will. They clearly did not have a back up plan.
Ellen needs to stop propping up trash on her show.
Disappointed in Ellen. Kevin is utter trash.
Ellen, why?
I think she is like real life friends with him… which says something. I am not defending him but she would most likely not have someone on her show that she thought hated gay people.
It’s quite possible it’s a “but he’s nice to me,” friendship. A.K.A. “But I’ve got a black/female/gay friend, so I can’t be racist/sexist/homophobic.”
Not to mention that many men don’t consider lesbians to be “gay,” as it’s often the most homophobic of a-hole’s top sexual fantasy (vomit). As if all lesbians really need are their man parts (double vomit).
In many cases it’s only homosexual men—and therefore their own sexuality coming into question—that they’re threatened by. I see this a LOT in men who consider themselves so-called tough guys.
Ellen DeGeneres called the Academy to ask them to take Kevin Hart back. It’s on her show today. She tells Hart he should do it and she forgives him.
Yeah, we know. It’s what the whole article’s about!
What a whiny, insecure, little bitch he is.
And wow Ellen, tone deaf much? We talk a lot about white feminism, but what’s the term for a white LQBTQ person dismissing the concerns of LGBTQ people of colour? (Particularly gay Black men)? Just….yikes.
It’s not just LGBTQ people of colour who had problems with what he said, what Kevin said demeaned all LGBTQ people and Ellen’s not their spokesperson.
He’s not even that funny. He has been coasting since he blew up and his shtick has been repetitive and boring for a while.
No, no, NO. HE ISN’T EVEN SORRY!
Seriously, he has made only the weakest, most begrudging of apologies. He is clearly totally unrepentant- the only way he feels bad about any of this is he feels bad for HIMSELF.
And leaving aside all his repugnant “jokes”- this man beat his first wife. He cheated rampantly on his second (WHILE SHE WAS PREGNANT WITH THEIR BABY.)
I know they’re pretty desperate to find a host (nobody even wanted the job BEFORE the Hart mess, can’t imagine how much they’ve been scrambling since) but bringing him back is NOT the answer. Do better, Academy. (And Ellen should have done better. Way better. I know she’s never a hard-hitting interviewer but this is just rubbish. If she was going to have him on she should have done her job and got him to actually talk about it. Instead the only person saying “sorry” in that conversation was Ellen.)
Ellen is just as much to blame for supporting this mess. He’s acting like a big baby.
Honestly, I don’t care for a host. I thought Ricky Gervais and Tina and Amy were funny when they hosted the Globes; but the Oscars haven’t been funny in as long as I can remember! I’ll tune in either way, but all I am there for is to see the fashion and who gets an award. I don’t care for jokes or for stunts! Just let’s us see the fashion and the winners!
I agree with this so much. There’s also a big audience overseas, jokes don’t ever translate well, they should just leave comedians out, have a decent person as a host and be done with it.
yes, that would be lovely
Or watch the beginning of the show for the fashion and read about the winners the next morning? It’s not like the Academy deserves viewers or accolades of any form.
That’s my plan. In the past, you could watch a stream of the red carpet and see the dresses in motion – not just posed – which was entertaining in itself, because all of the ladies with the too long hems have to pick up their skirts to walk. Failing that, I’ll check out stills from the red carpet. I’m not going to watch the awards unless they get an appealing host. (Not Kevin Hart!) Too bad no one wants to touch it now.
What Mr Hart may not realize is that he is starting to become famous for all of this BS moreso than his actual career. Good luck with that, dude!
Folks with twitter might want to @Ellen about this.
If he had truly learned his lesson and was genuinely sorry, what’s the harm in apologising a second time, reaffirming his new pro-LGBTQ beliefs.
He couldn’t do that, so he stays canceled.
I want to see if Ellen will get any fallout from her support of Kevin Hart? My cynical side is thinking if this is a way for Ellen to step away from her show? Social media backlash and criticism, then a tearful monologue on her show saying how she has lost that “spark” and is ending her show.
Something is just very off about all of this, can’t put my finger on it
Ellen needs to have several seats. Awww she bugs. Wrong move. Ask Wanda to host already. If she turned it down at this point I wouldn’t blame her.
Yes to Wanda!!
That’s an AWESOME idea!
He should have apologized. Point blank. But as I’ve said numerous times, I’m really not a fan of digging up old tweets to use against celebs. Not because I don’t think people should be held accountable for their actions but to me it just draws a slippery slope. Like how far back are folks willing to go? What gets excused and what doesn’t get excused? WHO actually gets exposed and why are they being exposed? (Like James Gunn being exposed because he was vocal against Trump). I don’t know. Maybe I’m not looking at this the right way. Of course I posted this comment here because I’d love to hear someone else’s take on this.
*This isn’t me condoning what Kevin Hart said or did by the way.
Anyways regarding the hosting situation. I have a feeling he’s going to get it back since literally no one in Hollywood wants to host. The Academy is getting desperate and they’ll comeback crawling to him.
I agree with you. And I cannot help but feel a little underlying racism with this situation. He said stupid shit and he should have apologized but damnn comedians says a lot of dumb shit that would be ok a long time ago, we have grown as a society now. Lets have conversations instead of cancelling people outright
They did have the conversation.
Academy: Hey Kevin we’re a program with long ties to the LGBTQ community and they’re really uncomfortable with your jokes about how the best was to deal with a young Black boy who may be gay is to beat the s**t out of him. Perhaps you could acknowledge that this was humour of a different time and apologize and note your support for young marginized people?
Kevin: WHIIIIINE!! You’re ruining my fun!!!! I already apologized (…at some point, can’t tell you when)!!! Sorry if you were offended I guess. I have gay friends!! YOU MADE ME UNCOMFORTABLE!!! WHIIIIIIINE!!!
Great conversation. Oh, and racism from the Academy on this? Try consistency. Google: Bret Ratner and Oscars.
What he said wasn’t “stupid”, he said he would use violence against his child if he saw him acting “gay”.
Based on his behaviour towards women, I don’t think he was joking.
The tweets were not jokes. Hart was using gay and the f-word to insult and demean commenters with whom he disagreed. That isn’t comedy, that is homophobia.
Just so odd that you keep defending him and minimizing what he did. Why don’t you ask the LGBTQ community (you know, the target of his despicable comments) what they think? Because my best friend who is gay isn’t having his shit and she doesn’t accept his half-ass apology.
Why are we still trying to cancel people? The things that he said were wrong and upsetting no doubt, but is it a reasonable expectation that this man no longer work ( as a host, actor, or comedian). What amount of apologising would be enough? He feels that he has properly addressed it and even after he said he would not do so again, he did ( in his tweet where he resigned from the hosting gig).
Good Lord. 🙄 He’s not working any more? He’s just been announced for Jumanji 2 for which he will make MILLIONS. Get over yourself with this false martyrdom nonsense.
And he hasn’t made one remotely genuinely apology in the face of a show that has long ties to the LGBTQ community. He was mostly mad his “fun” was spoiled. So this is not the job for him. As it wasn’t for Bret Ratner when he made homophobic remarks.
@Mia4s +1
I’m not defending him, and I have not paid for one of his movies or shows, heck I don’t watch the Oscars, and I dislike his comments about dark-skinned women also! I’m just saying that even if he gives the apology that is good enough for you or me, that doesn’t mean that it will suffice for everyone and at what point is enough to move forward. Also, are there any other incidents that show that he hasn’t grown and still makes these type of “jokes”?
How many times have us “regular” folks have said something that is sketchy and then grew as a person and moved on? I learned to stop idolizing and spending money on these people! I can look back at old comments and feel like I shouldn’t have said some things so maybe my lens is different.
( Just in case I become famous I would like to take this time to apologize for all of my comment that anyone may find offensive)
Kevin is currently worth $170 million. He can afford to apologize and show he has learned something about respect towards those not like him. He can afford to do something for the LGBTQ. He can afford to never have to say these kind of things ever again, but I bet he will.
+1 @TheBees
Does anyone have a link to his first apology? I know he says he made one years ago, but I’ve never actually read/seen it.
No, we don’t because there wasn’t one.
He says he did in a junkett in 2009
It’s funny, isn’t it, that no one had trouble finding his homophobic tweets, but no one can come up with the apology tweet. Funny that.
To the previous commenter. Agree. Lots of guys like Kevin Hart don’t consider lesbians to be “gay” especially if they or their wives look like Portia.
Successful people that have shitty sides to them are pretty good at only showing what they want when they want. Kinda what enables them to be successful.
I don’t think Kevin Hart is funny at all. Granted I’ve never seen any of the movies he’s been in where he had a major role and maybe I don’t get him. In interviews he never makes me laugh and I find him super annoying.
But seriously the Oscars don’t need a host. The ceremony will just be so much faster if they go straight into the awards. We don’t need a 15 minute intro!
I had no idea he also had homophobic ‘comedy’ routines, why do people even want a man like this to be a host?
Ugh I just read more details on People. He’s totally playing the victim—saying people were attacking him and trying to destroy him based in his past homophonic tweets. This is victim mode, there is no apology. He’s only concerned about his ego and his career. Yea he’s cancelled.
I think this was a stunt by the Academy, and with the participation of Ellen, to get Kevin Hart back in people’s good graces before they announce that he’s back as host.
I was so disappointed with him as the host to begin with, even less now. I’ve never understood his appeal.
Hmm it does seem conveniently planned out, now that you say it.
I think you are on to something KatieBo.
That’s what I thought. There’s no way they wouldn’t already have picked another host if they really had parted ways with Hart. I bet they have been in discussions with him all this time waiting to announce him coming back as host. Ellen is the perfect person to help with this.
He’ll be the host and I will not be watching for the first time in 25 years.
Absolutely. PR set-up. It’s the old “get a _________ (fill in the blank with a token someone from a group) to vouch for you” scam.
I think him being the host is a good idea it can be a teachable moment.Especially if they do a segment addressing homophobia on the show.I remember some LGBTQ organization GLAAD saying he shouldn’t have stepped down because he could have used the Oscar stage to bring awareness and unity.Possibly by having him meet with some young LGBT people who have been bullied,beaten or disowned by parents who actually did what Kevin “joked about” when they learned their child was gay.He has stated many times that it was fear and his insecurity that lead to the comments about his son.
BTW I know Kevin and his kids are close to a few black gay male couples.One in particular is fashion stylist Jason Bolden and his husband Adair because I follow them on IG.So it’s not true that he is only close friends with Ellen because he don’t really see her as “gay”
I hope he takes the gig and uses humor and compassion to show how we are more alike than different and we are all works in progress.
why not? The bar isn’t high for the Academy anyway (Polanski best director)
Why is it not mentioned here that Ellen started this whole thing of getting Kevin Hart back to host the Oscars? She called the Academy on his behalf. He’s on her show today and she wants him to host and says she forgives him and believes in second chances.
Kevin did not come up with this on his own.
That’s literally what this whole post is about.
I just think Renee is saying that most comments are on Kevin’s head, and Ellen should be taking more heat for this. Depends on whether you are reading upthread or downthread, I guess.
I’m queer and I accept the substantial apologies he DID GIVE. We white people force Black people to apologize everyday for their existence and we are forcing him to overdo accountability because he’s Black. The trolls who found those old tweets? I highly doubt that wasn’t racially motivated. I want him back and I want white people to stop this nonsense.
yup
I’m Black and queer and wondering why white queer people are accepting apologies when they weren’t the target of Kevin Hart’s hateful comments. He hasn’t apologized or made any reparations. He has stated he would physically harm his son if he suspected he was gay. Much of Kevin Hart’s humour is about dehumanizing dark-skinned Black women, and homophobic and transphobic comments. It’s lazy and harmful to Black women and queers/femmes.
Thank you, Jane Does. Took the words all the way out of my mouth.
Especially when queer POC make up the majority of victims of violent hate crimes. For every Matthew Shepard out there, there’s likely two or three dead brown kids whose murderers have gone off scott-free because nobody cared to acknowledge them.
Substantial? Do you have a link?
Because I DO NOT accept the apology that he never gave, nor do I accept the video temper tantrum he released about it. I do not accept Ellen’s rollout. He has learned nothing, done nothing, and grown not one bit.
Gee.I really believe he can have a new way of thinking and commitment when he is thinking should I or shouldn’t I do it now because even Ellen thinks everyone should be over it. A man of hard won principles and self realization.
I’m gay and I do believe in forgiveness too but it takes more than an Ellen guesting to do that. He has to work for it to gain our trust or just my trust since I am not speaking for the entire Lgtb community. And do it sincerely and not just to save his career. For one he didn’t even say sorry. How hard was that?
A lot of people Kevin’s age were raised and taught to hate on queer people and many of them are changing their ways or are trying to. I mean if you watch tv shows / series and how they treat gay people before 2008, no one in this business will be allowed to have a job today. In a way, Nick Canon was right but why stop at female comedians? Chris Rock, Ken Jeong, Jay Leno, Ricky Gervais and even Conan have homophobic /transphobic materials. Even this site used a transphobic slur (Eddie Murphy article). He’s a terrible person but he’s no Louis CK.
He is Not even funny. Question to Ellen why are you even supporting this jerk.
Anyone wondering if Kevin Hart has changed just needs to watch him be homophobic in “Get Hard” and then tell a gay reporter in a press junket that he shouldn’t be offended by it because funny is funny. It was pretty obvious the reporter didn’t find it funny in any way.
I dont like the guy because I find him talentless and annoying but I wonder how many of you would feel if you made a mistake, apologized, and people refused to forgive you? NONE of you are perfect people. It is disturbing thing to think that people cannot be forgiven for mistakes. Ellen has spoken out in favor of letting him be the host and SHE IS RIGHT. If there is no dialogue, there is no learning from errors made. You people want to cancel this man without allowing him the chance to have a dialogue which he can evolve in a positive direction from. Go ahead and freak out on me now.
Anyone who has NEVER made a mistake, said something they regret, treated someone badly and regret it, can judge. What he did was wrong, yes. But is there zero forgiveness? No one is forgiven? I don’t understand how these things can ever be resolved. If a person did something, apologized and then never did it again, then that’s a step in the right direction, no? I’m not sure how we can get past anything without being willing to forgive. I’m just saying this to see what others think.
He didn’t apologize and he did do it again. If you have proof that he did either of those things, please attach the clip.
Show us where he said, “I am sorry. I made a mistake. I don’t believe homosexuality is bad or that gays should be made fun of.” Show us the apology where he said he is sorry he and his friends and family dressed up for his son’s birthday like “cowboys and Indians.”
Please provide the links.
He has continued to make jokes about gays even as lately as “Night School” and his son’s birthday party was just weeks ago. In order to be forgiven, he needs to actually apologize and not continue to do and say these things. It’s not a hard concept.
I believe in forgiveness and that people can change, and in giving people a second chance. But I also believe in showing remorse. We can forgive him if he shows us he is truly sorry, but rewarding him by giving him hosting duties is a huge stretch in my opinion. This whole situation feels gimicky and pre-planned, as someone said above.
I agree Cay. I’m just asking a general question. I’m not certain if, when or what apologies he has made or attempted to make.
I found Ellen’s interview with him disturbing. The first part was okay, but then he quickly started playing the victim and it was gross. He said those horrible words and handled the scandal badly. He is the only one at fault here. I do think people deserve a second chance and can grow with time, but he’s still clueless on who the real victims are. That said, let him host, I won’t be watching anyway, but maybe he can encourage donations to the community during the broadcast as a way of making amends.
Kevin Hart is not a victim, despite all his whining. HE is the bully. He is perpetuating stereotypes and prolonging and endorsing abuse of marginalized children, ostracized by their families due to their sexuality. Hart is part of the problem and, no, that’s not anything he’s reckoned with via a four-line Twitter apology that mostly focused on how much he, a multi-millionaire movie star, has lost due to his views.
Kevin Hart has the power and clout to change minds and hearts in a community that is still very much struggling with acceptance—namely, so called “traditional” men, like Hart, who feel a gay son (or even a son who might be simply PERCEIVED as homosexual) is a stain on their own masculinity, to be purged by whatever means necessary, including violence, as Hart himself declared he’d do.
If Hart publicly, unequivocally and sincerely did the work to refute those twisted past views with compassion and education, THAT would be a worthy and just apology, deserving of praise and reward.
Going on a talk show and griping with another celebrity about how unfair the backlash to your antiquated and dangerous views are TO YOU, instead of the victims of abuse you advocated, is not an apology, and not even vaguely redemptive.
Word! ^^
I think he should suck it up and apologize
All this whining over a dumb job that pays $15,000? I don’t personally care about who he calls what. No one wants to watch that phony show anyway and the actors are so ugly now with all their recomposted faces & bodies.