# Kevin Hart Steps Down From Hosting The Oscars **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 7, 2018, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kevin-hart-steps-down-from-hosting-the-oscars/825737 "2018-12-07T11:01:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2018, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kevin-hart-steps-down-from-hosting-the-oscars/825737/41 "2018-12-07T18:13:23Z")
> [@johnod](#): > > T > The HONEST answer would be straight, because , like I said, his life would be easier. You speak for yourself. My honest answer is that I hope for them to be themselves, straight or gay. This ain’t some PC claptrap, either. That’s the way I feel and I have always felt. ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2018, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kevin-hart-steps-down-from-hosting-the-oscars/825737/42 "2018-12-07T18:23:33Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > The quote I copied was from 2011 when Hart was in his early 30s. This is not a relic of days of yore or from someone too young to know better. I find this offensive. 😉 As I just posted in another thread, I previously held a view on gender-identity issues that would have been considered offensive to those in that community. I would have been in my early thirties at the time. Now, I am in my late thirties, and my views on that have been completely changed, as I learned more about it and examined my own thoughts and feelings on the subject. And from that, I grew into a more thoughtful person on that issue, and do not like my previous stance. People grow and learn every day. I think the change in my position was only as long ago as 2014, so three years after Hart’s tweet. If I can completely evolve in that time, why couldn’t he? ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2018, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kevin-hart-steps-down-from-hosting-the-oscars/825737/43 "2018-12-07T18:24:46Z")
> [@johnod](#): > > The point was I don’t think anyone HOPES their son will be gay. > If someone were to ask, “do you hope your son will be gay or straight?” > The HONEST answer would be straight, because , like I said, his life would be easier. My kids have always known that we would accept them, and all options are on the table. I don’t care one whit if they grow up gay, straight, bi, trans, whatever… as long as they are happy with who they are. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2018, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kevin-hart-steps-down-from-hosting-the-oscars/825737/44 "2018-12-07T18:33:28Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > It’s amazingly possible to live a full life and not know a thing about popular films. And still have a useful opinion on who should host the Oscars? I suppose it’s a free country. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2018, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kevin-hart-steps-down-from-hosting-the-oscars/825737/45 "2018-12-07T18:36:47Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Sadly, I think they have. How can anyone defend “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.’”? It’s not funny and he wasn’t mocking actual assholes. It’s just disgusting. No, see, it’s funny because he…no, I got nothing unless there’s some significant context missing. I’ve enjoyed some of Hart’s film work (_Central Intelligence, Jumanji_) although the bits of his standup I’ve seen have not impressed me and he seems to have a reputation as a bit of a dick with regard to his standup tours. And I accept that people say dumb and sometimes hurtful stuff they later regret (as I certainly have). But if Hart’s earlier comments were going to be a massive distraction at the Oscars (luvviefest that they are) then Hart is probably right to step down and let someone else take the helm. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2018, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kevin-hart-steps-down-from-hosting-the-oscars/825737/46 "2018-12-07T18:42:26Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > And still have a useful opinion on who should host the Oscars? I suppose it’s a free country. Sure. I don’t have an opinion as to who should win the Oscars, but I can have an opinion about who should host them (although I don’t). Trump, for example, should not host the Oscars. Neither should Rosanne Barr. I can say that without having any idea about the films in contention. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2018, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kevin-hart-steps-down-from-hosting-the-oscars/825737/47 "2018-12-07T19:43:32Z")
Anyone can have an opinion on anything. You’ll note I used the adjective “useful”. If you don’t give a crap about popular movies, I would suggest you extend that to not giving a crap about the awards ceremony for popular movies. But hey, like I said, it’s a free country. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2018, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kevin-hart-steps-down-from-hosting-the-oscars/825737/48 "2018-12-07T19:45:57Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Anyone can have an opinion on anything. You’ll note I used the adjective “useful”. If you don’t give a crap about popular movies, I would suggest you extend that to not giving a crap about the awards ceremony for popular movies. But hey, like I said, it’s a free country. I’m on board with that. I can see how my comments might be read to conclude I care about the Academy’s decision. I don’t really. Although I know enough (now) to see why they were uncomfortable with Mr. Hart, and I can support that (in a not giving a crap kind of way) ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2018, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kevin-hart-steps-down-from-hosting-the-oscars/825737/49 "2018-12-07T19:51:39Z")
FWIW, I do know the guy and I actually think he’s a shit comedian. Honestly can’t stand him. Since I get forced to watch the Oscars every year, I’m rather happy he’s out. ---
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2018, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kevin-hart-steps-down-from-hosting-the-oscars/825737/50 "2018-12-07T20:08:35Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > This smacks of another ‘political correctness’ thread. > > Yes, Hart has a right to say what he wants, offensive or not. But he does not have the right to be free of the consequences of his words and actions. When you speak, you chance that your words will have consequences. In this case, one of the consequences is losing a gig. Fine. It happens. > > But one shouldn’t paint this as some form of censorship. So-called ‘edgy’ comedians get hung on this sort of thing all the time. It’s the chance they take. > > Cries of ‘let him speak’ or ‘political correctness’ - which I realize hasn’t popped up here yet - are really just calls for a ‘safe space’ for the offensive to be free from consequences. Just as much as college kids wishing for such on campus, they’re a bit silly. The difference is, on college campuses it’s waterhead kids without experience while in the wider world it’s grown-ass adults who should already have learned that words and actions have consequences. The problem these days is that the very concept of a statute of limitations has been tossed out the window. It’s one thing to have consequences–it’s entirely another for several years or (in some cases) even decades to go by where there were no consequences and then BAM! suddenly it seems like the whole world decides, “Guess what? There are major, news-making consequences for what used to be a very minor thing–a thing that had been forgotten until we decided to rake up.” ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2018, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kevin-hart-steps-down-from-hosting-the-oscars/825737/51 "2018-12-07T20:35:19Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > The only good recent host was McFarlane. It’s a shit gig anyway. I’ve liked all the recent hosts, really. Every time someone bitches about the latest host I’m baffled. ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2018, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kevin-hart-steps-down-from-hosting-the-oscars/825737/52 "2018-12-08T02:19:06Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Never ever say anything ever, just in case a single person decides it’s now considered offensive. I find this offensive… ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2018, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kevin-hart-steps-down-from-hosting-the-oscars/825737/53 "2018-12-08T05:05:29Z")
> [@Kropotkin](#): > > I find this offensive… Offensivsenitvity!!! Bonus point for naming the reference. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2018, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kevin-hart-steps-down-from-hosting-the-oscars/825737/54 "2018-12-08T06:10:38Z")
> [@puddleglum](#): > > Jokes are harmless. Was there one single episode of someone breaking a doll house over their son after Hart’s joke? Of course not. When he said the joke, people laughed, felt a little better and then nothing bad happened. > Jimmy Kimmel has a long history of misogynistic jokes and a habit of blackface. Yet he was host the past two years without controversy. Has the Academy really fallen this far in only one year? That is not the way that words do harm. One kind of harm they can do is to make people feel horrible about themselves, or afraid they are beyond the pale, or to reinforce their already existing sense of worthlessness. Especially children who are just realizing they might be gay, and are afraid to talk to their parents about it because of a joke like that (and maybe a parent who laughed at it). I don’t know (or care) anything about Jimmy Kimmel or what he has said or done. I don’t care who hosts the Oscars. I don’t care who is offended by what. But I do care that people understand that their words can have power. ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2018, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kevin-hart-steps-down-from-hosting-the-oscars/825737/55 "2018-12-08T06:42:22Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > This smacks of another ‘political correctness’ thread. > > Yes, Hart has a right to say what he wants, offensive or not. But he does not have the right to be free of the consequences of his words and actions. When you speak, you chance that your words will have consequences. In this case, one of the consequences is losing a gig. Fine. It happens. > > But one shouldn’t paint this as some form of censorship. So-called ‘edgy’ comedians get hung on this sort of thing all the time. It’s the chance they take. > > Cries of ‘let him speak’ or ‘political correctness’ - which I realize hasn’t popped up here yet - are really just calls for a ‘safe space’ for the offensive to be free from consequences. Just as much as college kids wishing for such on campus, they’re a bit silly. The difference is, on college campuses it’s \*\*waterhead \*\*kids without experience while in the wider world it’s grown-ass adults who should already have learned that words and actions have consequences. I don’t really have a strong opinion on the Kevin Hart situation, but I find your use of the word, [“Waterhead”](https://www.hydroassoc.org/term-water-head-causes-hydrocephalus-community-to-take-notice/), amusingly ironic, given the stance you are taking. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2018, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kevin-hart-steps-down-from-hosting-the-oscars/825737/56 "2018-12-08T07:39:39Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > Cite to his past apology? > > And if someone’s done something they’ve come to realize was wrong, and they’ve apologized for it, and learned and grown from the experience and have grown into a better person, why the obstinate refusal to so much as repeat that earlier apology? > > I’d never heard of this guy before maybe Wednesday, so I’ve got no dog in this fight, but that just sounds like total bullshit to me. It’s gone way past “apology” and is now “you must continually grovel and beg for forgiveness until Twitter slacktivists are satisfied.” ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2018, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kevin-hart-steps-down-from-hosting-the-oscars/825737/57 "2018-12-08T08:22:00Z")
1929 William C. deMille & Douglas Fairbanks 1930 William C. deMille 1931 Conrad Nagel 1932 Lawrence Grant 1933 Lionel Barrymore & Conrad Nagel 1934 Will Rogers 1935 Irvin S. Cobb 1936 Frank Capra 1937 George Jessel 1938 Bob Burns 1939 \*\*\*\*\* No Host \*\*\*\*\* 1940 Bob Hope 1941 Bob Hope 1942 Bob Hope 1943 Bob Hope 1944 Jack Benny 1945 John Cromwell & Bob Hope 1946 Bob Hope & James Stewart 1947 Jack Benny 1948 Agnes Moorehead & Dick Powell 1949 Robert Montgomery 1950 Paul Douglas 1951 Fred Astaire 1952 Danny Kaye 1953 Bob Hope & Conrad Nagel 1954 Fredric March & Donald O’Connor 1955 Bob Hope & Thelma Ritter 1956 Claudette Colbert & Jerry Lewis & Joseph L. Mankiewicz 1957 Celeste Holm & Jerry Lewis 1958 Bob Hope & Jack Lemmon & David Niven & Rosalind Russell & James Stewart & Donald Duck 1959 Bob Hope & Jerry Lewis & David Niven & Laurence Olivier & Tony Randall & Mort Sahl 1960 Bob Hope 1961 Bob Hope 1962 Bob Hope 1963 Frank Sinatra 1964 Jack Lemmon 1965 Bob Hope 1966 Bob Hope 1967 Bob Hope 1968 Bob Hope 1969 \*\*\*\*\* No Host \*\*\*\*\* 1970 \*\*\*\*\* No Host \*\*\*\*\* 1971 \*\*\*\*\* No Host \*\*\*\*\* 1972 Sammy Davis Jr. & Helen Hayes & Alan King & Jack Lemmon 1973 Carol Burnett & Michael Caine & Charlton Heston & Rock Hudson 1974 John Huston & David Niven & Burt Reynolds & Diana Ross 1975 Sammy Davis Jr. & Bob Hope & Shirley MacLaine & Frank Sinatra 1976 Goldie Hawn & Gene Kelly & Walter Matthau & George Segal & Robert Shaw 1977 Warren Beatty & Ellen Burstyn & Jane Fonda & Richard Pryor 1978 Bob Hope 1979 Johnny Carson 1980 Johnny Carson 1981 Johnny Carson 1982 Johnny Carson 1983 Walter Matthau & Liza Minnelli & Dudley Moore & Richard Pryor 1984 Johnny Carson 1985 Jack Lemmon 1986 Alan Alda & Jane Fonda & Robin Williams 1987 Chevy Chase & Goldie Hawn & Paul Hogan 1988 Chevy Chase 1989 \*\*\*\*\* No Host \*\*\*\*\* 1990 Billy Crystal 1991 Billy Crystal 1992 Billy Crystal 1993 Billy Crystal 1994 Whoopi Goldberg 1995 David Letterman 1996 Whoopi Goldberg 1997 Billy Crystal 1998 Billy Crystal 1999 Whoopi Goldberg 2000 Billy Crystal 2001 Steve Martin 2002 Whoopi Goldberg 2003 Steve Martin 2004 Billy Crystal 2005 Chris Rock 2006 Jon Stewart 2007 Ellen DeGeneres 2008 Jon Stewart 2009 Hugh Jackman 2010 Alec Baldwin & Steve Martin 2011 James Franco & Anne Hathaway 2012 Billy Crystal 2013 Seth MacFarlane 2014 Ellen DeGeneres 2015 Neil Patrick Harris 2016 Chris Rock 2017 Jimmy Kimmel 2018 Jimmy Kimmel Alhough no one requested it, here’s a list of _ **all** _ hosts of the Academy Awards ceremony. (Sorry for this rather large posting.) ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2018, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kevin-hart-steps-down-from-hosting-the-oscars/825737/58 "2018-12-08T13:51:02Z")
I remember Hartˋs routine, it was bizarre. He was killing it, and in the middle of the show busted that homophobic crap out of nowhere. It wasn’t political commentary, sarcasm, or even dark humor. There was some shock and some mild laughter, but I think it was mostly WtF!?! from the audience. ---
**Author:** ![Royal\_Nonesutch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecb155/32.png) [@Royal\_Nonesutch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Royal_Nonesutch)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2018, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kevin-hart-steps-down-from-hosting-the-oscars/825737/59 "2018-12-08T16:58:31Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Some people in this thread have clearly not seen the things Hart tweeted. ## You are correct, at least in my case. Upon reading more about Kevin Hart’s past statements it is clear that he does indeed have a serious issue with gay people that can’t be handwaved away with “I was just joking, afterall, I’m a COMEDIAN, yo!”. He seems to be a truly nasty piece of work (in my opinion, as the measure of the man, cheating on his wife while she was 8 months pregnant with his child is every bit as bad as his vulgar homophobic tweets, in fact, actually probably worse) who is clearly only sorry that he is getting called out for being an asshole at this late date, as I am sure in his arrogant mind the “Statute of Limitations” had long passed. I remember he was on an episode of “Modern Family” as a hip doctor friend of Phil’s, and I thought he was a lock to be a recurring character, but it turned out to be a one-off shot. I now wonder if his past comments had anything to do with that? With that said, there are plenty of others who seem to be Teflon when it comes to this kind of behaviour largely getting a pass, Alec Baldwin and Jimmy Kimmel are two who spring to mind. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2018, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kevin-hart-steps-down-from-hosting-the-oscars/825737/60 "2018-12-08T17:02:03Z")
A little off topic but how do they have the Oscars without a host? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kevin-hart-steps-down-from-hosting-the-oscars/825737.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kevin-hart-steps-down-from-hosting-the-oscars/825737.md?page=4)