Kevin Hart has just Tweeted: “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.”

So Kevin Hart has backed down, just 24 hours after he was announced as host of the Oscars. The reason? Uncovered homophobic tweets from 2011 and other years that put into question his appropriateness for hosting the Academy Awards.

The scandal threatened to overshadow the Oscars broadcast in February 2019, and turn the next three months into a long slog of diatribe. Hart is a funny man, and often speaks without thinking.

In 2011 Hart Tweeted: 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.'” In another from 2010, Hart says someone’s profile pic looks “like a gay bill board for AIDS.” And in another written in 2009, he calls someone a “fat faced fag.”

The Tweet remained on his timeline until and just after he was announced as host. That’s when it was deleted. But by then word had spread. There was no way he could continue as Oscar host. On top of that, he wouldn’t apologize.

UPDATE NEW TWEET

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

Ironically, Hart’s scandal has exploded on the same night his “The Upside” co-star Bryan Cranston is having a huge success on Broadway. The two actors co-star in this movie that was held because of the Harvey Weinstein scandal. But now “The Upside” is coming out in January. Neil Burger’s movie is really great. I hope this episode doesn’t taint it again.

What I would do now about the Oscars is ask Cher and Meryl Streep, maybe with Christine Baranski and Tiffany Haddish, to host the Oscars. Haddish would be a hoot, and the other three would be just the right melange to pull it off.