The way it was shown to me was impossible to overlook.
In 2018, Kevin Hart faced criticism when some of his previous tweets that contained anti-gay language resurfaced online. The comedian had been announced as the host of the Oscars, but netizens found several of his deleted posts that made derogatory remarks towards the LGBTQ+ community.
In a post from 2011 that circulated, it was mentioned that if the person’s son played with their daughter’s dollhouse, they would smash it over his head and tell him to stop because it’s gay.
Later on, Kevin’s previous comments against the LGBTQ+ community resurfaced, including a stand-up bit from 2010 where he expressed his fear of his son being gay. Despite claiming he has nothing against gay people, he stated that he would try to prevent his son from being gay if he could.
A few years ago, Kevin stood by his controversial tweets from the past. He told writer Jonah Weiner in 2015 that he would not apologize for something that was never meant to be disrespectful. He refused to let the public dictate his actions for something he knew was not malicious. Kevin expressed frustration with how seriously people take things, stating that he wouldn’t apologize for a simple tweet.
He also defended a joke he made about having a gay son, saying it stemmed from his own fears and insecurities as a father. Kevin questioned if he had done something wrong as a parent, but assured that it wouldn’t change how he loved or viewed his son.
Kevin initially refused to offer an apology for his past anti-gay tweets that resurfaced in 2018. In an Instagram video, he stated, “I’ve decided not to apologize. I have already addressed this multiple times. This is not the first time it has come up. I have acknowledged my mistakes, discussed the rights and wrongs, and highlighted the growth and change in myself over time.”
Kevin also urged people to refrain from seeking reasons to be upset in a lengthy Instagram post. He wrote, “If you feel the need to dig into my past and upset yourself with what you find, that’s okay. I am nearly 40 years old and I am content with the person I have become. You live, you learn, you evolve, and you mature.”
The next day, Kevin made the announcement that he would not be hosting the Oscars this year. In a tweet, he explained his decision, stating that he did not want to overshadow the celebration of the many talented artists that night. He also offered a sincere apology to the LGBTQ community for his past insensitive remarks.
“I have made the decision to step down from hosting this year’s Oscars because I do not want to take the spotlight away from the incredible artists being honored. I deeply regret the hurt I have caused with my past words,” Kevin Hart tweeted on December 7, 2018.
“I am sorry for causing pain to others. I am committed to personal growth and strive to unite people, not drive them apart. Much love and gratitude to the Academy. I hope we can reconcile in the future,” he added.
Kevin has been discussing the ongoing controversy for years, but his statements often lead to more criticism. In 2019, he even went as far as calling the backlash a deliberate attempt to destroy his career.
Jump to the present day, Kevin has revisited the issue to acknowledge the harm caused by his previous anti-gay comments.
During his interview on 60 Minutes with Anderson Cooper, Kevin acknowledged that it was fellow comedian Wanda Sykes who helped him see the harm in his past comments. He shared how Wanda pointed out that there were people currently suffering because of remarks similar to his in the past, and there were others justifying such comments based on his actions. This perspective made Kevin realize the impact of his words, forcing him to confront the issue he couldn’t ignore.
Kevin mentioned that during times of despair, there is the potential for great learning and understanding to arise if you are provided with the opportunity to do so.
