A-list comedian and actor Kevin Hart says that people are trying to silence free speech in comedy, adding that such a push will destroy comedy as we know it.

What are the details?

Hart told host Joe Rogan for a Saturday podcast that censoring comedy to conform to "politically correct" culture is nothing more than a "push to destroy" comedy.

Hart discussed some jokes he'd made far in the past, which ultimately resulted in his withdrawal from Academy Award telecast hosting duties.

Oscars executives tapped Hart to host the awards show in December. He stepped down less than 48 hours after a vicious social media mob unearthed the old jokes that some considered offensive.

"It's easier to just say, 'I'm not a fan,'" Hart complained. "'That comedy isn't for me. You know what, I don't like the taste of this particular comedian, so I'm not going to support or watch that comedian. I'm going to find another comedian that's more to my liking.'"

"I want us to just get back to understanding that you just don't have to support it," Hart insisted. "That's it."

Rogan chimed in that there are "a lot of f****** options" today for comedy.

"There's so many," Hart echoed.

Rogan added, "There's never been more. There's never been more comics. There's high-level comics. Think about how many people are doing Netflix specials today. There's never been more."

Hart agreed. "I don't understand why there's a push to destroy when you just don't have to support it."

What else?

Hart explained himself in a nutshell: "I'm the comedian that chooses to be sensitive to the times. I made the choice to say, 'I understand. I get why you shouldn't say certain things, why you should avoid this, that, or this.' I understand, and I am."