Kevin Hart Addresses Oscars Controversy in Exclusive Interview: ‘Would I Ever Do It Again? No, I’m Done’

Source: Variety:

January 4, 2019 at 21:24

He added, “There’s no ill will toward the Academy.”

Kevin Hart insisted he would not host the Oscars in an exclusive interview with Variety just hours before the comedian seemed to reopen the door to emcee the telecast during an appearance on Ellen DeGeneres’ talk show “The Ellen Degeneres Show.”

“Would I ever do it? No, it’s done. It’s done,” Hart said. “The moment came and it was a blessing and I was excited at the opportunity and I still am. In my mind I got the job, it was a dream job, and things came up that simply prohibited it from happening. But I don’t believe in going backwards.”

Later that day, Hart’s stance appeared to soften. In a conversation with DeGeneres, Hart revealed he was reconsidering his decision last month to step down as host after controversy erupted over the comic’s past homophobic tweets and jokes. He had a sympathetic ear in DeGeneres. The talk show icon — a two-time Oscars host herself — revealed she had called the Motion Picture Academy to lobby for Hart’s return to the post.