As 2018 was coming to a close, it was announced that Kevin Hart would be the next comedian to host the Oscars. However, when controversial tweets of his from 2009-2011 surfaced, Hart's credibility was questioned as he was labeled homophobic. The "scandal" caused Hart to step down as the Academy Awards host, and throughout these few months of 2019, Hart has issued numerous apologies for his use of words and phrases including "homo," "f*g," and "that's gay."
In an interview with USA Today, Hart revisits the controversy and denies that he has any issues with the LGBTQIA community. He also recognizes that not apologizing straight away may have been a mistake. "So I had several conversations with good friends of mine that are part of the LGBTQ community, and listened and heard the point of view that was very important, which was, 'Hey, Kevin, we just want to know that you don't feel the way you felt then. We wanted to hear you say that,'" Hart said.
"Which is what a good friend of mine, Lee Daniels, told me," Hart continued. "And I said, 'You know what, Lee, I can understand that.' I thought that me putting my change on display and never going back to that was the best way to do that. And if the verbal [apology] would have been better, then I can understand that. But at the time, I didn't grasp that concept of just wanting to hear that again. Hopefully, the people of the LGBTQ community know that I in no way, shape or form embrace any ill will toward anybody in general. It’s not who I am."
The actor also goes on to speak about his past infidelities and using the event as jokes in his act. Not every wife would be okay with her husband getting laughs from his cheating ways, but Hart says he sat down with his woman, Eniko Parrish, to talk things out first. "Me and my wife were on the same page, because this is something we addressed in our household first," he said. "Before it gets to the stage, my home has to be handled; we have to be in the space where we're OK and our conversations are ultimately what led to the material that was birthed from it."