Hosting the Oscars was one of Kevin Hart's dreams as an entertainer, a goal that was part of his vision board. The dream quickly turned into a nightmare when the announcement of his being chosen for the gig was overcast by scandal. Homophobic tweets that were published a decade ago resurfaced and caused outrage. Since then, Hart stepped down for the role. The Academy eventually declared they would welcome him back with open arms. This (second) invitation arrive too late, however. The comedian has confirmed that he will not be reclaiming his position as the host of this year's ceremony.
The "Night School" star says timing is the main factor of his final refusal. Since the award show is slated for February 24th, Hart would not have enough time to prepare as much as he would have hoped. "I am not hosting the Oscars this year... right now, from a time perspective, I don't have the time," he said on Good Morning America. "I like to call myself a perfectionist. I would want to make sure the production is a great representation of me and my talent." He might consider hosting "in the future [...] but it's not the conversation of today."
Kevin Hart is also done explaining or apologizing for those infamous tweets. "I am done with it. It gets no more energy," he said. "For the last time, I am done addressing this. There is no more conversation about it."