Kevin Hart under fire for decade old jokes, steps down from Oscar host selection

[Mobdeeper7239]

Nice avatar

Nice comeback carrotboy.

 

[Avocado33]

It's gotten way too far out of control.

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The Motion Picture Academy faces a new public relations crisis over its choice of Kevin Hart as this year's Oscars host as old tweets, in which Hart expressed anti-gay sentiments and used homophobic terminology and slurs, have resurfaced.

In one 2011 tweet, the comedian and movie star 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.'" In another from 2010, Hart says someone's profile pic looks "like a gay bill board for AIDS." And in another written in 2009, he calls someone a "fat faced fag."

Those tweets and many more like them were up as recently as Tuesday, the day Hart was announced as host of the 91st Academy Awards. But as word of them began to spread in the days following, they began to disappear.

The Academy did not respond to several requests from The Hollywood Reporter to comment on the controversy.

Nevertheless, the tweets drew condemnation from the likes of actor-comedian Billy Eichner, who tweeted, "You can tell its not just a joke — there's real truth, anger & fear behind these. I hope Kevin's thinking has evolved since 2011."

Journalist Mark Harris went even further, tweeting the choice of Hart as host was "out-of-sync for a year in which Rami Malek, Melissa McCarthy, Olivia Colman, Mahershala Ali, Richard E. Grant, Emma Stone, Rachel Weisz and Lucas Hedges could all get nominated for playing LBGTQ characters."

This is not the first time Hart's thoughts on LGBT people have caused controversy. A 2011 standup routine about his then 3-year-old son having a "gay moment" — "You've got to nip it in the bud!" he warned the audience — was criticized as promoting homophobic and dangerous parenting, according to The Guardian.

Hart told Rolling Stone in 2015 that he wouldn't tell the joke again, "because when I said it, the times weren't as sensitive as they are now."

The Academy has previously faced heat over anti-gay rhetoric in late 2011, when Brett Ratner resigned as producer of the 84th Academy Awards after saying "rehearsal is for fags" in a public Q&A for his film Tower Heist.

Ratner's exit led to the departure of Eddie Murphy, that year's announced host, who stepped down in solidarity. (Billy Crystal filled in.)

GLAAD has reached out to ABC, the Academy and Kevin Hart’s management to "discuss his rhetoric and record as well as opportunities for positive LGBTQ inclusion on the Oscars stage," said Rich Ferraro, chief communications officer for GLAAD. They have not yet responded.

And Pose star Indya Moore — whose groundbreaking trans series drew Golden Globe nominations for best drama and best actor (for Billy Porter) — penned a lengthy Twitter thread that laid into Hart for "sexualizing" his son in his 2011 routine, adding, "'Your choice to prevent' your child from being 'gay' is fear driven. You ARE homophobic Kevin."

"You @KevinHart4real are NOT FIT a model, or representative to Host for the @TheAcademy which CELEBRATES & WELCOMES talent of all genders, sexualities, & ethnicities," Moore continued. Poseexecutive producer Ryan Murphy retweeted several of the tweets.

Hart addressed the controversy in a defiant statement posted to Instagram on Thursday. In the black-and-white video, Hart, lying in bed shirtless, says, "I swear, man, our world is becoming beyond crazy. I'm not going to let the craziness frustrate me or anger me, especially when I worked hard to get to the mental space that I am at now."

Several hours later, Hart posted a second Instagram video in which he said he has refused a demand from the Academy to apologize.

Speaking from Sydney, Australia, where he is currently on tour, Hart said he received a call from the Academy giving him an ultimatum: apologize for his old tweets or step down as Oscars host.

"I passed. The reason I passed is because I've addressed this several times. This is not the first time this has come up," he said.

"Regardless, to the Academy, I'm thankful for the opportunity, if it goes away, no harm, no foul," Hart added.

Just about two hours later, though, Hart, in a tweet, formally stepped down from the Oscar hosting gig. "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," Hart wrote.

He added seconds later, "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."

Ironically, in giving up the hosting spot, Hart actually offered the apology that earlier he had refused to provide.

Beyond crazy how people are going back SEVEN YEARS looking for any sort of fodder to start a smear campaign. A constant fucking witch hunt. He's a COMEDIAN.

 

[Enfuego]

lmfao. He’s a comedian so he gets a pass and everyone else doesn’t? He used bad judgement you dumb fuck. This is social media where on the internet. Making gay or sexist jokes isn’t going to go over well no matter who you are. Doesn’t matter if you’re a comedian lmfaooo who gives a shit. The internet isn’t the place to be making jokes and expect people to comprehend it in good fun lmfao. Think retards.

Social media isn’t real life. Congrats for thinking that it is.

 

[Mobdeeper7239]

Social media isn’t real life. Congrats for thinking that it is.

Tell that to the thousands of kids/people who kill themselves from reading shit on there.

I agree people only show what they want you to see. It’s not presented realistically. But it is real life.

 

[Avocado33]

Social media isn’t real life. Congrats for thinking that it is.

It is real life in this day and age -- but it doesn't justify going back in time for the sole purpose of taking someone down. That's all this is

 

[Enfuego]

Tell that to the thousands of kids/people who kill themselves from reading shit on there.

I agree people only show what they want you to see. It’s not presented realistically. But it is real life.

No, it's not real life or Donald Trump wouldn't have been elected POTUS. Twitter had him defeated in a landslide. Twitter doesn't reflect the views of the majority. It reflects the views of social justice warriors.

 

[Enfuego]

It is real life in this day and age -- but it doesn't justify going back in time for the sole purpose of taking someone down. That's all this is

It doesn't not adequately reflect the views of the majority. It presents one view as if that view is in the majority when more often than not, it's not.

 

[Avocado33]

It doesn't not adequately reflect the views of the majority. It presents one view as if that view is in the majority when more often than not, it's not.

Fair point. I'm just saying it has consequences and impact, whether or not we want it to.

I think we can agree how ridiculous this is. Happy that Kevin Hart stood his ground.

 

[Acebb]

Lmao. Bahahahahahahahaha Another one. Zit’s twin. Every fucking post these two come with the same fucking bullshit statement every single fucking time. bahahahahahahaha. Every single time y’all associate some dumb fuck saying stupid shit on social media with political anything....you’re fucking brain dead. Now Zit will see what I am talking about. You morons bring this up about every fucking topic. Both of you did it bahahahahahahahahahagaLOLLLL.

Except for the fact that the people attacking Hart are left wingers. They're proudly left wing, say so, and there is no factual dispute about this.

You're so dumb it is actually boring.

 

[Acebb]

Lollllllll right. Mr. political correctness. You don’t even know what that is if you are using it in this particular subject. There is no connection, you are reaching like you always do. Keep making your baseless statements. You think this is the first time? I’m not going searching for your stupid ass statements you make in this offshore forum. But just know I wouldn’t be calling you out if this was the first time. Maybe the 50th time.

Um, stupid, he said these things in 2011. Yet mysteriously they're being talked about today.

Do you know what year it is moron?

 

[Enfuego]

Fair point. I'm just saying it has consequences and impact, whether or not we want it to.

I think we can agree how ridiculous this is. Happy that Kevin Hart stood his ground.

He didn't stand his ground. He stepped down from hosting the Oscars because of Mob's Twitter mob.

 

[Avocado33]

He didn't stand his ground. He stepped down from hosting the Oscars because of Mob's Twitter mob.

I think he stepped down as it was inevitable he was going to be booted. But I admire him for at least calling out how batshit crazy it is.

 

[busterhyman]

I think he stepped down as it was inevitable he was going to be booted. But I admire him for at least calling out how batshit crazy it is.

ah that's part of standing your ground..he should of made them fire him

 

[tatehill2000]

Tell that to the thousands of kids/people who kill themselves from reading shit on there.

I agree people only show what they want you to see. It’s not presented realistically. But it is real life.

Thinning of the Heard,,

if the FA@@)*$ cant handle it???,,,

 

[Avocado33]

ah that's part of standing your ground..he should of made them fire him

Fair enough. I guess relative to most people, he at least showed some sort of fight. That was my point

 

[StevieRay]

Thin skin world where many get feelings hurt. Just think if spent the energy doing something good instead of worrying what a brother said years ago

imagine if a white comic said it what a blood bath it would be

fuggin idiots

 

[RunMaker]

Dwight Howard to replace him?

With full make up?

That'll show them!

 

[tatehill2000]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVqTFNgHvk4

BOOM... someone finally speaks up, and does EXACTLY what i said!!
Sarah silverman, Amy schumer,, just to name 2...

 

[Enfuego]

Heisman winner Kyler Murray's past homophobic tweets deleted hours after award: report

Hours after Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray won the Heisman Trophy, several homophobic tweets from his past resurfaced.

As a teenager, Murray used an anti-gay slur in a tweet to friends, USA Today reported. Oklahoma University did not respond to the newspaper’s request for comment.

The tweets were deleted from Murray’s account early Sunday.

The re-discovered tweets put Murray, 21, in the company of other athletes finding themselves in a negative light just as they achieve success.

Racist tweets from Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen’s teenage years resurfaced ahead of last year's NFL Draft.

After helping the Villanova Wildcats win the 2018 national men's basketball championship, a tweet by Donte DiVincenzo that contained racist rap lyrics was also brought to light.

Tweets by Josh Hader of the Milwaukee Brewers featured racist, homophobic and misogynistic words. The tweets -- which Hader posted as a teen -- drew attention earlier this year as he became one of the top relievers in the majors.

While he is known for football, Oklahoma's Murray was selected by baseball's Oakland A’s with the ninth overall pick in the 2018 MLB draft. He plans to report to spring training next year after his college football career ends. He led the Sooners to a Big 12 championship the season.

Oklahoma faces No. 1 Alabama in the College Football Playoff on Dec. 29.

 

[barman]

Twitter doesn't reflect the views of the majority. It reflects the views of social justice warriors.

Twitter and IG may not yet be 'the majority', but they are certainly the primary communication tool worldwide for people aged 18-50. Every single person in any form of mainstream or cyber-based journalism is active, as are virtually everyone in the legal and political fields and obviously anyone in the entertainment business. Which last I checked television remains the number one channel of information to Americans nationwide

Trump's use of twitter, along with his millions of dedicated Followers is what propelled him to the combined 100,000 vote margin in WI, MI and PA that flipped the electoral college in his favor.

*You* (or I or anyone else) may view the platforms with skepticism and/or disdain but that is akin to someone in the early aughts turning their nose up to 'the internet'