Kevin Hart has stated that he has no plans to host the Oscars in the future due to the criticism and backlash that comedians often face when hosting award shows.
Kevin Hart advised comedians to steer clear of hosting awards shows, drawing from his own experience and Jo Koy’s mishap at the Golden Globes. The “Lift” actor shared in a Sky News interview that he has no intention of hosting another awards ceremony. Despite his previous hosting gigs for BET and MTV, Hart faced backlash for past controversial tweets, leading him to step down as the host of the 91st Academy Awards. While the incident caused some turbulence in his career, Hart has since bounced back and shared insights into the aftermath in his 2019 Netflix documentary. When asked if he would consider hosting the Academy Awards again during a press event for “Lift,” Hart quickly shut down the idea, stating emphatically, “No, absolutely not. Let’s just throw that hope out the window right now.”
Hart made it clear that he is in discussions with award-giving organizations in good faith, but he emphasized that comedians are no longer welcome as hosts at such events. “Those opportunities are not ideal for comedians,” he explained. “It’s not a criticism of the Oscars, the Globes, or any other awards show. They simply do not provide a welcoming environment for comedy anymore.” While Hart’s opinion may be based on his personal experiences, recent mishaps like Jo Koy’s lackluster Golden Globes monologue and Chris Rock’s controversial Oscars joke suggest a similar trend. However, Hart did acknowledge a few exceptional comedians like Chris Rock, Billy Crystal, Ricky Gervais, Tina Fey, and Amy Poehler. Is there no place for comedians in awards shows anymore?
“I really liked the year when they had a bunch of different personalities as hosts, it was a collaborative effort and a nice change,” he remarked. “Different people were in charge of different acts, but the days of it just being a comedian’s stage are over.” Making a nod to Jo Koy’s monologue, he also mentioned how industry comics have it easier when roasting celebrities without facing backlash. Jo Koy recently faced criticism for his jokes at the Golden Globes.
Hart, along with Steve Martin and Whoopi Goldberg, defended Jo Koy after some of his jokes didn’t land well at the awards show. “It’s not like it used to be,” he said. “There’s too much pressure on comedians now, it’s tough to navigate what’s considered jokes.” Hart, currently starring in the heist film “Lift,” humorously mentioned how he now prefers the company of action film actors. “I’ve been a guest in their world for a while, but now I feel at home. Me, Tom Cruise, Harrison Ford, Bruce Willis – just a group of guys I relate to.”
Get ready to catch the movie “Lift” on Netflix, and mark your calendars for the 96th Academy Awards airing on March 10th, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel. Source: cbr.com.
