Just a few days after being tapped to host the 91st Academy Awards, comedian Kevin Hart is stepping down from the role after backlash to his past homophobic tweets and stand-up.

After the hosting announcement, online outrage started gathering around the Academy’s choice. Online users posted example of Hart’s old tweets, as well as stand-up in which he expressed homophobic sentiment and said he wouldn’t want his son to be gay.

Kevin Hart posted a video reacting to the backlash with frustration. He then received a call from the Academy requesting an apology for his homophobic tweets, which Hart refused to give, saying he had already addressed and righted those wrongs.

Shortly after, he stepped down from the Oscar’s and apologized to the LGBT 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)

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

What do you think of the online backlash and how Kevin Hart handled the situation? What was the Academy’s responsibility in all this? How should offensive statements from one’s past affect future prospects? Should Hart’s previous apologies been enough, and if not, what kind of apology would have been appropriate?

Guest:

Elahe Izadi, pop culture reporter for the Washington Post; she tweets