According to Russian international news website and radio broadcast Sputnik News, It’s been a rough year for Chris Rock. The 2019 Academy Awards originally slated Rock… wait, y'all meant Kevin Hart, right?
The media company posted a now-deleted tweet with the headline, "Kevin Hart out as Oscars host amid row over gay jokes," alongside a picture of Rock.
Lordt.
Hart’s tweets came under fire on Tuesday shortly after he was announced as the upcoming host. The resurfaced tweets date back to 2009, where he questioned gay men “sweating” and called another user a "fat faced fag." In 2010, he tweeted that someone's profile picture looked "like a gay billboard for AIDS." Another tweet in 2011 stated that if he saw his son playing with his daughter's dolls, he would break it over his head and "say n my voice 'stop that's gay.'"
I wonder when Kevin Hart is gonna start deleting all his old tweets ???????????? pic.twitter.com/ZbYG6SI3Xm
— Benjamin Lee (@benfraserlee) December 5, 2018
The tweets quickly gained media attention, leading to numerous LGBTQ members and allies speaking out against his actions, including
Pose star Indya Moore.
You @KevinHart4real are NOT FIT a model, or representative to Host for the @TheAcademy which CELEBRATES & WELCOMES talent of all genders, sexualities, & ethnicitieas. you frequently reveal yourself to occupy the malevolence you treat people who don't sexually exist like you as.
— IAM (@IndyaMoore) December 6, 2018
Hart would have followed in the footsteps of many other comedians who’ve hosted the Oscars like Chris Rock and Richard Pryor and would have been the fifth Black person to take on the coveted role.
The 39-year-old originally addressed the controversy on his Instagram in a video.
"I'm not going to let the craziness frustrate me," Hart said.
He then posted another video saying that the Academy asked him to apologize, and he declined because it wasn't the first time he's acknowledged the tweets.
On Thursday, he tweeted about his decision to step down along with an apology to the LGBTQ community.
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.
— Kevin Hart (@KevinHart4real) December 7, 2018
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.
— Kevin Hart (@KevinHart4real) December 7, 2018
The news website has since corrected its mistake with an updated photo after getting blasted by Twitter users:
Oh Sputnik.
Did you not read @MrNishKumar article?
Give it a go. #Oscars
#KevinHart
pic.twitter.com/eghUcbJnvf— WeeHalfPint (@weehalfpintt) December 7, 2018
Now that's the kind of thorough research and accurate reporting we've come to expect from Sputnik. pic.twitter.com/DH7k8OPLQw
— Max Kennerly (@MaxKennerly) December 7, 2018
Sputnik is working hard to support that racist Russian stereotype pic.twitter.com/YblExj12at
— Schnitzel Cat aka Dmitriy Mandel (@mndl_nyc) December 7, 2018
When @chrisrock sees this shit >>>>> https://t.co/xl5l8iSbBr
— ???????????????????? ???????????????????????? (@Jem758) December 7, 2018
The error is just one of several instances in which Black celebrities who don't resemble each other in the least have been mistaken for one another by news outlets, stock photo agencies and award shows. Just a few weeks ago, Black Panther actress Danai Gurria was mistaken for How to Get Away with Murder star Viola Davis by multiple stock photo agencies.
Do better.
Rock will be joining forces with Hart in the upcoming film Co-Parenting.
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