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Kevin Hart Announced as Oscar Host....Stepped Down a Day Later

HughFreakingDillonHughFreakingDillon Winnipeg Posts: 37,350
in A Moving Train
Kevin Hart was announced as host for the Oscars for 2019 on Wednesday. Then the social justice warriors scurried into action, unearthing 10 year old homophobic tweets he made, and the Academy told him to publicly apologize or be gone. He gave the Academy the middle finger. His reasoning? He had apologized for the person he used to be several times over the last several years, he has evolved as a human, and is no longer that person, and didn't feel he should have to apologize all over again. 

In one of the tweets from 2011, among some that have been deleted, the comedian-actor said, "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'."
"I have made the choice to step down from hosting this year's Oscar's," Hart, who is currently performing in Sydney, Australia, announced late Sunday on Twitter. "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. 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."
    Hart announced on his official Instagram page that he would host the Academy Awards for the first time in the coming year.
    "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," he wrote when he announced the news on Tuesday.
    In another Instagram post on Thursday, Hart said the Academy asked him to apologize or they would find another host. Hart said he chose not to issue the apology and step down instead, saying he did not want to contribute to "feeding the internet trolls."

    "The reason why I passed is because I've addressed this several times," Hart said. "I'm not going to continue to go back and tap into the days of old when I've moved on and I'm in a completely different space in my life."
    Chad Griffin, the head of an LGBT civil rights advocacy group called the Human Rights Campaign, responded to Hart on Twitter.
    "You have a rare opportunity to take responsibility, teach people in this moment, & send a message to LGBTQ youth that they matter & deserve dignity & respect. You say you've grown. Show us. Make amends for hurtful things you've said & affirm LGBTQ people," Griffin said.

    Thoughts?
    "Oh Canada...you're beautiful when you're drunk"
    -EV  8/14/93




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    Comments

    • RiotZactRiotZact Posts: 6,260
      joke
      /jōk/
      noun

      1. a thing that someone says to cause amusement or laughter, especially a story with a funny punchline.
    • Meltdown99Meltdown99 None Of Your Business... Posts: 10,739
      He is right.  How many times does he have to apologize? 
      Give Peas A Chance…
    • HughFreakingDillonHughFreakingDillon Winnipeg Posts: 37,350
      Meltdown99 said:
      He is right.  How many times does he have to apologize? 
      I agree. 
      "Oh Canada...you're beautiful when you're drunk"
      -EV  8/14/93




    • Meltdown99Meltdown99 None Of Your Business... Posts: 10,739
      I have never paid much attention to Hart, until this week I did not even know gay jokes were part of his routine.  I saw him defending himself, he seemed sincere when he said: "that's not who I am now"...
      Give Peas A Chance…
    • oftenreadingoftenreading Victoria, BC Posts: 12,845
      Ehhh, he's not that funny, and the column isn't that accurate. He regularly makes homophobic comments in his acts, based on the one and a half netflix specials I have watched, so it wasn't just one old tweet; there's recent stuff too, I believe, though I'm no expert on him. I turned off the second special because it just wasn't that good, not because I was offended by anything he said. 
      my small self... like a book amongst the many on a shelf
    • Meltdown99Meltdown99 None Of Your Business... Posts: 10,739
      Like, I said, I've never seen his act, I'm just going by what's reported.  I find Chris offensive as well...but he seems to get a free pass.
      Give Peas A Chance…
    • HughFreakingDillonHughFreakingDillon Winnipeg Posts: 37,350
      oftenreading said:
      Ehhh, he's not that funny, and the column isn't that accurate. He regularly makes homophobic comments in his acts, based on the one and a half netflix specials I have watched, so it wasn't just one old tweet; there's recent stuff too, I believe, though I'm no expert on him. I turned off the second special because it just wasn't that good, not because I was offended by anything he said. 
      I don't think he's funny in the least. but I still agree with him. 
      "Oh Canada...you're beautiful when you're drunk"
      -EV  8/14/93




    • oftenreadingoftenreading Victoria, BC Posts: 12,845
      HughFreakingDillon said:
      oftenreading said:
      Ehhh, he's not that funny, and the column isn't that accurate. He regularly makes homophobic comments in his acts, based on the one and a half netflix specials I have watched, so it wasn't just one old tweet; there's recent stuff too, I believe, though I'm no expert on him. I turned off the second special because it just wasn't that good, not because I was offended by anything he said. 
      I don't think he's funny in the least. but I still agree with him. 

      What part do you agree with?
      my small self... like a book amongst the many on a shelf
    • HesCalledDyerHesCalledDyer Maryland Posts: 16,455
      Comedians make jokes about stereotypes.  Who knew?
      Star Lake 00 / Pittsburgh 03 / State College 03 / Bristow 03 / Cleveland 06 / Camden II 06 / DC 08 / Pittsburgh 13 / Baltimore 13 / Charlottesville 13 / Cincinnati 14 / St. Paul 14 / Hampton 16 / Wrigley I 16 / Wrigley II 16 / Baltimore 20 (xx) / Camden 22 / Baltimore 24
    • Meltdown99Meltdown99 None Of Your Business... Posts: 10,739
      HesCalledDyer said:
      Comedians make jokes about stereotypes.  Who knew?
      That's true.  Just watch Russell Peters act.
      Give Peas A Chance…
    • my2handsmy2hands Posts: 17,117
      PC nazi's are almost as bad as Illinois nazi's
    • oftenreadingoftenreading Victoria, BC Posts: 12,845
      HesCalledDyer said:
      Comedians make jokes about stereotypes.  Who knew?
      But did he joke about stereotypes, or did he make stereotypical jokes? Sounds like the latter. 
      my small self... like a book amongst the many on a shelf
    • mcgruff10mcgruff10 New Jersey Posts: 28,614
      edited December 2018
      Kevin Hart cracks me up, this world is getting way too pc.  I read an article this morning that they want to get rid of rudolph the red nosed reindeer because it is an example of bullying.  Baby it is cold outside is being removed from radio stations because of the lyrics.  The wussification of the world continues.

      I love what Hart said:  
      Hart answered the outrage with a video Thursday, stating: “I swear, man, our world is becoming beyond crazy. And I’m not gonna let the craziness frustrate me or anger me, especially when I’ve worked hard to get to the mental space that I am at now. My team calls me. ‘Oh my god, Kevin. The world is upset by tweets you did years ago.’ My god. Guys – I’m almost 40 years old. If you don’t believe that people change, grow, evolve as they get older, I don’t know what to tell you. If you wanna hold people in a position where they always have to justify or explain their past, then … I’m the wrong guy, man. I’m in a great place. A great, mature place, where all I do is spread positivity. If you’re not doing that, you’re not on my page.”
      “The same energy that went into finding those old tweets could be the same energy put into finding the response to the questions that have been asked years after years after years,” said Hart in the video. “We feed into internet trolls, and we reward them. I’m not gonna do it, man. I’m gonna be me, and I’m gonna stand my ground. Regardless, Academy, I’m thankful and appreciative of the opportunity. If it goes away, no harm no foul.”  
      Post edited by mcgruff10 on
      I'll ride the wave where it takes me......
    • HughFreakingDillonHughFreakingDillon Winnipeg Posts: 37,350
      oftenreading said:
      HughFreakingDillon said:
      oftenreading said:
      Ehhh, he's not that funny, and the column isn't that accurate. He regularly makes homophobic comments in his acts, based on the one and a half netflix specials I have watched, so it wasn't just one old tweet; there's recent stuff too, I believe, though I'm no expert on him. I turned off the second special because it just wasn't that good, not because I was offended by anything he said. 
      I don't think he's funny in the least. but I still agree with him. 

      What part do you agree with?
      if he apologized a bunch of times already, and hasn't done it since, then I don't see why he needs to keep apologizing. 
      "Oh Canada...you're beautiful when you're drunk"
      -EV  8/14/93




    • OnWis97OnWis97 St. Paul, MN Posts: 5,195
      I don't know what he said, when he said it, how he apologized, or whether he's made similar jokes since.  So I don't have strong feelings about this whole thing.

      I will say this, though, "it's comedy" is about the weakest defense for legitimate bigotry there is...I saw it a lot (by keyboard SJW-defeaters, of course) in defense of Michael Richards dropping N-bombs.
      1995 Milwaukee     1998 Alpine, Alpine     2003 Albany, Boston, Boston, Boston     2004 Boston, Boston     2006 Hartford, St. Paul (Petty), St. Paul (Petty)     2011 Alpine, Alpine     
      2013 Wrigley     2014 St. Paul     2016 Fenway, Fenway, Wrigley, Wrigley     2018 Missoula, Wrigley, Wrigley     2021 Asbury Park     2022 St Louis     2023 Austin, Austin
    • dignindignin Posts: 9,337
      Kevin Hart is not funny.

      Louis C.K. should host.
    • mcgruff10mcgruff10 New Jersey Posts: 28,614
      HughFreakingDillon said:
      oftenreading said:
      HughFreakingDillon said:
      oftenreading said:
      Ehhh, he's not that funny, and the column isn't that accurate. He regularly makes homophobic comments in his acts, based on the one and a half netflix specials I have watched, so it wasn't just one old tweet; there's recent stuff too, I believe, though I'm no expert on him. I turned off the second special because it just wasn't that good, not because I was offended by anything he said. 
      I don't think he's funny in the least. but I still agree with him. 

      What part do you agree with?
      if he apologized a bunch of times already, and hasn't done it since, then I don't see why he needs to keep apologizing. 
      100% agree.
      I'll ride the wave where it takes me......
    • cincybearcatcincybearcat Posts: 16,488
      HughFreakingDillon said:
      Meltdown99 said:
      He is right.  How many times does he have to apologize? 
      I agree. 
      Agree
      hippiemom = goodness
    • pjhawkspjhawks Posts: 12,566
      OnWis97 said:
      I don't know what he said, when he said it, how he apologized, or whether he's made similar jokes since.  So I don't have strong feelings about this whole thing.

      I will say this, though, "it's comedy" is about the weakest defense for legitimate bigotry there is...I saw it a lot (by keyboard SJW-defeaters, of course) in defense of Michael Richards dropping N-bombs.
      except Michael Richards dropping n-bombs was in reference to a heckler and not part of the act.

      trolls are killing comedy

      are you ok with rappers dropping the n-word in their music?


    • Spiritual_ChaosSpiritual_Chaos Posts: 30,569
      HesCalledDyer said:
      Comedians make jokes about stereotypes.  Who knew?
      In what way is saying he wouldn't accept his son being gay "joking about stereotypes"?
      "Mostly I think that people react sensitively because they know you’ve got a point"
    • oftenreadingoftenreading Victoria, BC Posts: 12,845
      Meltdown99 said:
      HesCalledDyer said:
      Comedians make jokes about stereotypes.  Who knew?
      That's true.  Just watch Russell Peters act.
      I haven’t watched Peters in a while because I haven’t seen any new acts come out, but from my memory he jokes a lot about his South East Asian community. That brings us back to what’s been discussed a bunch before here - you can joke about your own community (eg black comedians using the n word) but people not in that community had better tread lightly. Hart is not in that community. 
      my small self... like a book amongst the many on a shelf
    • OnWis97OnWis97 St. Paul, MN Posts: 5,195
      pjhawks said:
      OnWis97 said:
      I don't know what he said, when he said it, how he apologized, or whether he's made similar jokes since.  So I don't have strong feelings about this whole thing.

      I will say this, though, "it's comedy" is about the weakest defense for legitimate bigotry there is...I saw it a lot (by keyboard SJW-defeaters, of course) in defense of Michael Richards dropping N-bombs.
      except Michael Richards dropping n-bombs was in reference to a heckler and not part of the act.

      trolls are killing comedy

      are you ok with rappers dropping the n-word in their music?


      Yes.  It's not the same thing.  One could argue they should not do that...but it's apples and oranges.  I certainly don't lament that they can do it and I cannot.
      1995 Milwaukee     1998 Alpine, Alpine     2003 Albany, Boston, Boston, Boston     2004 Boston, Boston     2006 Hartford, St. Paul (Petty), St. Paul (Petty)     2011 Alpine, Alpine     
      2013 Wrigley     2014 St. Paul     2016 Fenway, Fenway, Wrigley, Wrigley     2018 Missoula, Wrigley, Wrigley     2021 Asbury Park     2022 St Louis     2023 Austin, Austin
    • Spiritual_ChaosSpiritual_Chaos Posts: 30,569
      Funny is, I just a few days stumbled upon an interview with him discussing Bill Maher using the n-word, and how insensitive that was.
      "Mostly I think that people react sensitively because they know you’ve got a point"
    • oftenreadingoftenreading Victoria, BC Posts: 12,845
      dignin said:
      Kevin Hart is not funny.

      Louis C.K. should host.
      Ha ha!
      my small self... like a book amongst the many on a shelf
    • HesCalledDyerHesCalledDyer Maryland Posts: 16,455
      mcgruff10 said:
      Kevin Hart cracks me up, this world is getting way too pc.  I read an article this morning that they want to get rid of rudolph the red nosed reindeer because it is an example of bullying.  Baby it is cold outside is being removed from radio stations because of the lyrics.  The wussification of the world continues.

      I love what Hart said:  
      Hart answered the outrage with a video Thursday, stating: “I swear, man, our world is becoming beyond crazy. And I’m not gonna let the craziness frustrate me or anger me, especially when I’ve worked hard to get to the mental space that I am at now. My team calls me. ‘Oh my god, Kevin. The world is upset by tweets you did years ago.’ My god. Guys – I’m almost 40 years old. If you don’t believe that people change, grow, evolve as they get older, I don’t know what to tell you. If you wanna hold people in a position where they always have to justify or explain their past, then … I’m the wrong guy, man. I’m in a great place. A great, mature place, where all I do is spread positivity. If you’re not doing that, you’re not on my page.”
      “The same energy that went into finding those old tweets could be the same energy put into finding the response to the questions that have been asked years after years after years,” said Hart in the video. “We feed into internet trolls, and we reward them. I’m not gonna do it, man. I’m gonna be me, and I’m gonna stand my ground. Regardless, Academy, I’m thankful and appreciative of the opportunity. If it goes away, no harm no foul.”  
      Love it.
      Star Lake 00 / Pittsburgh 03 / State College 03 / Bristow 03 / Cleveland 06 / Camden II 06 / DC 08 / Pittsburgh 13 / Baltimore 13 / Charlottesville 13 / Cincinnati 14 / St. Paul 14 / Hampton 16 / Wrigley I 16 / Wrigley II 16 / Baltimore 20 (xx) / Camden 22 / Baltimore 24
    • HesCalledDyerHesCalledDyer Maryland Posts: 16,455
      Spiritual_Chaos said:
      HesCalledDyer said:
      Comedians make jokes about stereotypes.  Who knew?
      In what way is saying he wouldn't accept his son being gay "joking about stereotypes"?
      That's not what he said.
      Star Lake 00 / Pittsburgh 03 / State College 03 / Bristow 03 / Cleveland 06 / Camden II 06 / DC 08 / Pittsburgh 13 / Baltimore 13 / Charlottesville 13 / Cincinnati 14 / St. Paul 14 / Hampton 16 / Wrigley I 16 / Wrigley II 16 / Baltimore 20 (xx) / Camden 22 / Baltimore 24
    • RiotZactRiotZact Posts: 6,260
      OnWis97 said:
      I don't know what he said, when he said it, how he apologized, or whether he's made similar jokes since.  So I don't have strong feelings about this whole thing.

      I will say this, though, "it's comedy" is about the weakest defense for legitimate bigotry there is...I saw it a lot (by keyboard SJW-defeaters, of course) in defense of Michael Richards dropping N-bombs.
      It’s not a defense it’s a fact. There are extremely few circumstances where a joke goes “too far”, in my opinion. This is not even close to being one of those instances. 
    • dignindignin Posts: 9,337
      RiotZact said:
      OnWis97 said:
      I don't know what he said, when he said it, how he apologized, or whether he's made similar jokes since.  So I don't have strong feelings about this whole thing.

      I will say this, though, "it's comedy" is about the weakest defense for legitimate bigotry there is...I saw it a lot (by keyboard SJW-defeaters, of course) in defense of Michael Richards dropping N-bombs.
      It’s not a defense it’s a fact. There are extremely few circumstances where a joke goes “too far”, in my opinion. This is not even close to being one of those instances. 
      I mostly agree...but only when it's funny and clever. Unfortunately the "joke" in question is neither. Kinda like Kevin Hart.
    • HughFreakingDillonHughFreakingDillon Winnipeg Posts: 37,350
      mcgruff10 said:
      Kevin Hart cracks me up, this world is getting way too pc.  I read an article this morning that they want to get rid of rudolph the red nosed reindeer because it is an example of bullying.  Baby it is cold outside is being removed from radio stations because of the lyrics.  The wussification of the world continues.

      I love what Hart said:  
      Hart answered the outrage with a video Thursday, stating: “I swear, man, our world is becoming beyond crazy. And I’m not gonna let the craziness frustrate me or anger me, especially when I’ve worked hard to get to the mental space that I am at now. My team calls me. ‘Oh my god, Kevin. The world is upset by tweets you did years ago.’ My god. Guys – I’m almost 40 years old. If you don’t believe that people change, grow, evolve as they get older, I don’t know what to tell you. If you wanna hold people in a position where they always have to justify or explain their past, then … I’m the wrong guy, man. I’m in a great place. A great, mature place, where all I do is spread positivity. If you’re not doing that, you’re not on my page.”
      “The same energy that went into finding those old tweets could be the same energy put into finding the response to the questions that have been asked years after years after years,” said Hart in the video. “We feed into internet trolls, and we reward them. I’m not gonna do it, man. I’m gonna be me, and I’m gonna stand my ground. Regardless, Academy, I’m thankful and appreciative of the opportunity. If it goes away, no harm no foul.”  
      I think that Rudolph thing was just one guy explaining in some op-ed the ills of that show in today's world. some of it was right, some of it was "meh". I have always thought, even before the PC-age, that Rudolph was a terrible message to kids. Basically waht it says is "it's not ok to be different until we need something from you". 
      "Oh Canada...you're beautiful when you're drunk"
      -EV  8/14/93




    • RiotZactRiotZact Posts: 6,260
      dignin said:
      RiotZact said:
      OnWis97 said:
      I don't know what he said, when he said it, how he apologized, or whether he's made similar jokes since.  So I don't have strong feelings about this whole thing.

      I will say this, though, "it's comedy" is about the weakest defense for legitimate bigotry there is...I saw it a lot (by keyboard SJW-defeaters, of course) in defense of Michael Richards dropping N-bombs.
      It’s not a defense it’s a fact. There are extremely few circumstances where a joke goes “too far”, in my opinion. This is not even close to being one of those instances. 
      I mostly agree...but only when it's funny and clever. Unfortunately the "joke" in question is neither. Kinda like Kevin Hart.
      Funny is subjective, though. So as long as the person that says the joke says it with the thought that it will make people laugh, then there is literally no reason that you are allowed to be offended by it. Period. I mean you can be offended by it, that’s your right, but you have no comprehension of the words “joke” or “comedy” if you are, and that’s not subjective. 

      For the record, I can’t stand Kevin Hart and thought he was a poor choice to host. 
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