Oscars host Kevin Hart won't apologize for past homophobic tweets despite Academy ultimatum

Newly minted Oscars host Kevin Hart said Thursday that he will not apologize for years-old tweets in which he made homophobic and transphobic comments, despite being given an ultimatum by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Representatives for the Academy, which organizes the Oscars, did not immediately respond to EW’s request for comment on Hart’s remarks.

He signed off by saying, “Regardless, the Academy, I’m thankful and appreciative of the opportunity. If it goes away, no harm, no foul.”

After Hart was announced as the host of the upcoming 91st Academy Awards on Tuesday, people began revisiting the comedian’s Twitter account and bringing up posts from as far back as 2009, in which Hart made homophobic and transphobic comments. In one tweet from 2011 that Guardian journalist Benjamin Lee tweeted out after the Oscars host announcement, Hart had written, “Yo if my son comes home and 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.’”

Thursday morning, in response to a report that Hart was deleting old tweets, comedian Billy Eichner, who is openly gay, tweeted, “Many of us have jokes/tweets we regret. I’m ok with tasteless jokes, depending on context. What bothers me about these is you can tell its not just a joke-there’s real truth, anger & fear behind these. I hope Kevin’s thinking has evolved since 2011.”

• Oscars 2019: Kevin Hart set to host 91st Academy Awards