Oscars 2019 host Kevin Hart defends self over offensive Twitter comments

Not too long after Kevin Hart was named the host for the 2019 Oscars, it was revealed that there may be some more problems that the Academy has to deal with. To be specific here, we are talking about some offensive Twitter comments the comedian made online many years ago. These surfaced on Thursday, which led to an immediate backlash from many diehard Oscars viewers. Several of Hart’s comments were specifically homophobic in nature, which led to strong condemnation from many within the LGBTQ community.

So what did Hart choose to say about this after the fact? The comedian issued a new statement on Instagram today, but did not exactly say a whole lot that feels like an apology:

Stop looking for reasons to be negative. Stop searching for reasons to be angry. I swear I wish you guys could see/feel/understand the mental place that I am in. I am truly happy people… there is nothing that you can do to change that. NOTHING. I work hard on a daily basis to spread positivity to all… with that being said if you want to search my history or past and anger yourselves with what u find that is fine with me. I’m almost 40 years old and I am in love with the man I’m becoming. You LIVE and YOU LEARN & YOU GROW & MATURE. I live to love. Please take your negative energy and put it into something constructive. Please. What’s understood should never have to be said. I LOVE EVERYBODY… ONCE AGAIN EVERYBODY. If you choose to not beloeve me then that’s on you. Have a beautiful day.

It feels like Hart is trying to suggest here that he has somehow grown from the man that he was, but why not just say that? Why not just apologize for what he said years ago? His statement instead reads almost as though it other people’s fault for criticizing him when really, this feels like the sort of thing that he should be taking responsibility for.

As for whether or not the Oscars will change hosts, it does feel in some way possible — the Oscars are still a couple of months away and they can market easily around someone else. Having a good host is important for this broadcast, mostly because that often defines the year and it’s also an entry point to getting viewers in the door. Ratings for the Oscars have dropped over the years and with that, ABC and the Academy do need to find a way to ensure that the show is as relevant and commercially successful as possible.

Related – Be sure to check out some news when it comes to the official Oscar hosting announcement

What do you think: Should the Oscars replace Kevin Hart as host? Be sure to share right now in the attached comments. (Photo: Oscars.)