NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal says Kevin Hart's critics and detractors need to move on.
In case you've been living under a rock, Hart was pulled from being host of the 2019 Academy Awards after several insensitive tweets posted from 2009 to 2011 surfaced. For example, one of Hart's tweets from a bit in 2009 read, "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.'"
Hart has since apologized multiple times but Shaq says he shouldn't have to keep doing so.
"Some people feel he made a mistake," Shaq tells TMZ. "He apologized for his mistake. I always thought comedians were allowed to crack jokes."
"Anyone that knows Kevin Hart should know that anything he said was never malicious."
"He shouldn't have to keep apologizing," Shaq continued. "He apologized twice. People should just move on. Everyone makes mistakes."
Shaq isn't the only celebrity who has come to Hart's defense. Ellen DeGeneres recently invited Hart on her show to discuss the situation, and revealed that she reached out to the Academy to re-hire Hart as a host.
That said, Variety reports that the Oscars will be moving forward without a host for the first time in nearly three decades. The event will air live on February 24 from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.