Kevin Hart steps down as Oscar’s host after criticism

Kevin Hart has stepped down from hosting the Oscars after his homophobic tweets from the past surfaced on Thursday.

The tweets, between 2009 and 2011, included derogatory language referring to gay people and made disparaging comments about sexuality.

On Friday Hart posted an apology to the LGBTQ community on Twitter for his past insensitive words and confirmed he would not host one of the biggest event so as not to be a distraction.

“I have made the choice to step down from hosting this year’s Oscars,” he wrote. “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. I'm sorry that I hurt people... I am evolving and want to continue to do so,” he added.

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 tweets, which Hart hadn’t deleted upon his announcement as the Oscars host, set off a social-media storm on Thursday, with a Care2 petition started on behalf of the LGBTQ and #MeToo communities calling for the Academy to withdraw Hart’s invitation to host.