Just two days after being named host of the Academy Awards, Kevin Hart stepped down following an outcry over past homophobic tweets by the comedian.
Capping a swift and dramatic fallout, Hart wrote on Twitter just after midnight Friday that he was withdrawing as Oscars host because he didn害羞草研究所檛 want to be a distraction. 害羞草研究所淚 sincerely apologize to the LGBTQ community for my insensitive words from my past,害羞草研究所� wrote Hart.
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Hart stepped aside just about an hour after refusing to apologize for tweets that resurfaced after he was announced as Oscars host on Tuesday. In a video on Instagram, Hart said the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences gave him an ultimatum: apologize or 害羞草研究所渨e害羞草研究所檙e going to have to move on and find another host.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淚 chose to pass on the apology,害羞草研究所� Hart said. 害羞草研究所淭he reason why I passed is because I害羞草研究所檝e addressed this several times.害羞草研究所�
The film academy didn害羞草研究所檛 respond to messages Thursday evening.
Hart has since deleted some of the anti-gay tweets, mostly dated from 2009-2011. But they had already been screen-captured and been shared online. In 2011, he wrote in a since-deleted tweet: 害羞草研究所淵o if my son comes home & try害羞草研究所檚 2 play with my daughters doll house I害羞草研究所檓 going 2 break it over his head & say n my voice 害羞草研究所榮top that害羞草研究所檚 gay.害羞草研究所�
In an earlier post Thursday, Hart wrote on Instagram that critics should 害羞草研究所渟top being negative害羞草研究所� about his earlier anti-gay remarks.
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 almost 40 years old. If you don害羞草研究所檛 believe that people change, grow, evolve? I don害羞草研究所檛 know what to tell you,害羞草研究所� said Hart, who added, in all-caps: 害羞草研究所淚 love everybody.害羞草研究所�
Hart害羞草研究所檚 attitudes about homosexuality were also a well-known part of his stand-up act. In the 2010 special 害羞草研究所淪eriously Funny,害羞草研究所� he said 害羞草研究所渙ne of my biggest fears is my son growing up and being gay.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淜eep in mind, I害羞草研究所檓 not homophobic, I have nothing against gay people, do what you want to do, but me, being a heterosexual male, if I can prevent my son from being gay, I will,害羞草研究所� Hart said.
GLAAD, the advocacy group for LGBTQ rights, said Thursday that it reached out to Oscars broadcaster ABC, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences and Hart害羞草研究所檚 management to 害羞草研究所渄iscuss Kevin害羞草研究所檚 anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and record.害羞草研究所�
Comedian and actor Billy Eichner said 害羞草研究所渁 simple, authentic apology showing any bit of understanding or remorse would have been so simple.害羞草研究所�
It害羞草研究所檚 not the first time an Oscars host has been derailed by anti-gay remarks. Ahead of the 2012 Academy Awards, producer Brett Ratner, who had been paired with host Eddie Murphy, resigned days after using a gay slur at a film screening. Murphy soon after exited, as well.
That year, a tried-and-true Oscars veteran 害羞草研究所� Billy Crystal 害羞草研究所� jumped in to save the show, hosting for his eighth time. This time, speculation has already been rampant that few in Hollywood want the gig, for which few win glowing reviews.
The film academy moved up this year害羞草研究所檚 ceremony to Feb. 24, giving producers little time to find a replacement.
The Associated Press
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