Kevin Hart steps down as Oscars 2019 host

The Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle star was supposed to host the Oscars after talk show host Jimmy Kimmel held the gig for two consecutive years. But the actor has abruptly withdrawn from hosting the Oscars Thursday night amid flack for past homophobic and anti-gay tweets.

Just after two days announcing he had landed what he called a dream gig, Hart said that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences had told him to choose between apologizing for the tweets or losing the job. The Academy must now find a new host for the
in February.

The 39-year-old American actor and comedian made a statement in a tweet. He said, “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”.

In another tweet he has apologized for his earlier comments. He wrote, “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 said the tweets were from nearly a decade ago and that he has matured since then. “I chose to pass on the apology. The reason why I passed is because I’ve addressed this several times,” Hart, 39, said during a video posted to Instagram. Few of his tweets have been removed since then.

“My team calls me, ‘Oh my God, Kevin, everyone’s upset by tweets you did years ago,’” he said in that video. “Guys, I’m nearly 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 want to hold people in a position where they always have to justify the past, do you. I’m the wrong guy, man.”