Kevin Hart named Oscars host; immediately steps down

[A Platypus Rave]

If he apologized then ignore my earlier response at least as directed to him.

(And an actual apology not an i'm sorry you were offended nonpology)

[Gravedigger's Biscuits]

Dec 7, 2018 11:59:06 GMT -5 Futureraven: Beelzebruv said:

Dec 7, 2018 11:50:38 GMT -5 Gravedigger's Biscuits said:

So people find these tweets, the Oscars give Hart a choice between apologising or stepping down.

He declines to apologise and promptly steps down.....only to then apologise anyway.

Huh?

That I can kind of get.

If he apologised, he wanted it to be because he chose to, and not because they forced him to.

And that's worth giving up a dream job? Just seems pathetic to me.

Sometimes people need to just suck it up and swallow their pride, especially when they're actually wrong. I mean it's not like Kevin Hart has a leg to stand on here, he did make homophobic comments/jokes.

So just apologise, whether it's the 1st time or the 10th time, and it'll hopefully blow over. Instead he's made the situation worse AND lost a great gig.

[Futureraven: Beelzebruv]

Dec 7, 2018 13:36:23 GMT -5 A Platypus Rave said:

If he apologized then ignore my earlier response at least as directed to him.

Not the tweets, but I've found a Rolling Stone Article talking about the routine.

www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-news/kevin-harts-funny-business-67836/

It's long so I'll quote the bit in question.

Hart, an avowed crowd-pleaser, isn’t aiming to push boundaries or tackle taboos. Describing his sensibility in interviews, he’s said things like “I’m not a political guy” and “What you have to learn to do is to give people what they want — people love a broad comedy.” There is one prominent exception to this. In 2010’s Seriously Funny, he tells the audience, “One of my biggest fears is my son growing up and being gay. That’s a fear. Keep in mind, I’m not homophobic. . . . Be happy. Do what you want to do. But me, as a heterosexual male, if I can prevent my son from being gay, I will.” This leads into vignettes in which Hart reacts to imagined signs of Hendrix’s blossoming homosexuality with interjections of “Stop, that’s gay!” Discussing this bit today, Hart says, “It’s about my fear. I’m thinking about what I did as a dad, did I do something wrong, and if I did, what was it? Not that I’m not gonna love my son or think about him any differently. The funny thing within that joke is it’s me getting mad at my son because of my own insecurities — I panicked. It has nothing to do with him, it’s about me. That’s the difference between bringing a joke across that’s well thought-out and saying something just to ruffle feathers.” Even so, he adds, “I wouldn’t tell that joke today, because when I said it, the times weren’t as sensitive as they are now. I think we love to make big deals out of things that aren’t necessarily big deals, because we can. These things become public spectacles. So why set yourself up for failure?”

See, now here's the context that was needed. Looks like it might be one of those things that's really tough to do, mocking an attitude by portraying it, like how "All in the Family" and it's British counterpart mocked racist attitudes but in doing so, had a lot of fans who just straight up loved the bigoted aspects of characters.

So yeah, I take back what I said about the act, it didn't translate well and he needed to explain the joke at a later point, which isn't a great sign, but it looks like it didn't come from the worst place.

But if for other people that's not enough, that's down to them and I'm not gonna say anything about that.

[Futureraven: Beelzebruv]

Dec 7, 2018 13:39:24 GMT -5 Gravedigger's Biscuits said:

Dec 7, 2018 11:59:06 GMT -5 Futureraven: Beelzebruv said:

That I can kind of get.

If he apologised, he wanted it to be because he chose to, and not because they forced him to.

And that's worth giving up a dream job? Just seems pathetic to me.

Sometimes people need to just suck it up and swallow their pride, especially when they're actually wrong. I mean it's not like Kevin Hart has a leg to stand on here, he did make homophobic comments/jokes.

So just apologise, whether it's the 1st time or the 10th time, and it'll hopefully blow over. Instead he's made the situation worse AND lost a great gig.

I take it more as pride can be a weird thing.

I'm with you, it's come up again, so apologise again, think I mentioned before, do something like donate his appearance fee, not like he needs the money.

[Frosty]

You know, people can't pull up the bullshit you say on the internet if you don't say bullshit on the internet.

It's a choice that a person makes, to say bullshit on the internet; it isn't something they are forced to do.

Most people learn very early in life that actions and words have consequences. How is this any different?

That said, I do believe that people can grow and change, and redeem behavior they regret.

But deal with the consequences of your actions then move on and show how you've changed. If people still want to hold it against you, give them no energy.

[4TheGlory]

I forgive you Kevin Hart. You may host the show now

[Hakumental]

We forget the internet is still a relatively recent advance, but it's not so recent anymore - meaning that a lot of people who were kids or just barely into adulthood are now coming into their own in their careers, winning fame, running for politics, etc. So you have a whole new generation of people who have said stupid or insensitive things and the means to instantly corroborate that to the entire world, and effectively arm their enemies with the perfect ammunition in today's very risk-averse corporate and political spheres.

As I see it, one of two things is going to happen:

1. The strategy ultimately becomes so effective that the best politicians, celebrities, etc. become savvy to it and the only ones who succeed are the ones who stay off social media or maintain very restrained presences on it. It becomes vital to guard your every word if you're in any sort of public-facing occupation.

2. The strategy fails because people get so tired of the endless "LOOK AT WHAT HE TWEETED!" controversies that they just can't keep track of them anymore, and it stops having any effect. "When everyone's offensive, no one will be." - Syndrome (probably)

We're in for some...interesting times ahead.

[MC Blowfish]

He made the comments and he needs to face the consequences of his actions. Isn't that what we're taught when we're growing up? Your actions and words have consequences and if you say something offensive, then you have to face up to those words.

[Fade is a CodyCryBaby]

Yeah but what’s considered “offensive” has, is and always will vary. We’re just living in particularly precarious times.

[Captain Stud Muffin (BLM)]

Dec 7, 2018 13:36:23 GMT -5 A Platypus Rave said:

If he apologized then ignore my earlier response at least as directed to him.

(And an actual apology not an i'm sorry you were offended nonpology)

Yea, he's made apologies before too previous jokes and non jokes (like what would happen if his son was gay)

I get what he was going for in the first message on camera but the tone was just wrong. He should have combined the first and 2nd messages in regards to the apology. Say you apologize again for words that may have offended people in which he realizes the jokes were in bad taste but you also continue to grow with age and people can change over time.

Yes, there is people out there looking to stir shit there is no doubt about that. However, continue to man up on things you said and preach positivity. I can understand his frustration in terms of not "letting the trolls win" but not everyone who is mad at you is a troll and you have to realize that as well

As a black man living in NY, I've said shit in the past I damn sure wouldn't repeat now. Different times but you grow and realize that shit isn't cool and you better yourself. Growing up in a black family in general you hear shit you wouldn't repeat outside due to their feelings about things being very strong. You grow up as a kid 8 and 9 years old and your parents will openly tell you they hope you don't grow up gay and say in a joking and sometimes not joking manner they would be heartbroken. I've got gay family members and can't imagine how hard it was for them to hide that until they finally couldn't anymore but this has been more accepted in the black community over the last 20 years as opposed to before if you grew up in the 70s and 80s and had to hide it

I've rambled on long enough but yeah the end all be all is Kevin is going to have to live up to what he said. Whether joking or not you said what you said and while it was acceptable then it isn't anymore. This isn't going to hurt him long term as he's been on record apologizing before and what he said isn't anything we don't know that he talked about before. He handled this instance wrong. He should have taken a tone of acceptance while saying people can change and as a person in the spotlight he only wants to promote positivity. Live and learn

[MC Blowfish]

Dec 7, 2018 14:30:20 GMT -5 Fade is a CodyCryBaby said:

Yeah but what’s considered “offensive” has, is and always will vary. We’re just living in particularly precarious times.

No, we're not.  It just seems that way with the internet.  People have found ways to be offended for years.  Elvis offended people by dancing.  John Lennon offended people by making an off-hand comment about Jesus and the popularity of The Beatles.  People were offended over 2 Live Crew and Married with Children.  People were offended over shows in the 70s.  This is nothing new.  


Also it used to be perfectly ok to drop the n-word in conversation or to say "colored folk".  That's not considered OK anymore.  Views change and evolve.   

[Fade is a CodyCryBaby]

Dec 7, 2018 14:43:06 GMT -5 MC Blowfish said:

Dec 7, 2018 14:30:20 GMT -5 Fade is a CodyCryBaby said:

Yeah but what’s considered “offensive” has, is and always will vary. We’re just living in particularly precarious times.

No, we're not.  It just seems that way with the internet.  People have found ways to be offended for years.  Elvis offended people by dancing.  John Lennon offended people by making an off-hand comment about Jesus and the popularity of The Beatles.  People were offended over 2 Live Crew and Married with Children.  People were offended over shows in the 70s.  This is nothing new.  


Also it used to be perfectly ok to drop the n-word in conversation or to say "colored folk".  That's not considered OK anymore.  Views change and evolve.   

You’re right. But that same transparency and exposure with the internet has magnified it and exasperated a culture of outrage. In my opinion.

[TWERKIN' MAGGLE]

The problem with the social media history hounds is that they go after the ones who are real problems, but those people don't care about the horrible things they say.

So to feel vindicated, those history hounds go after and take down people who aren't real problems.

Congratulations. You took Kevin Hart down. Guess what, people who actually spread homophobia are still there and you're wasting your time.

I'm not even a fan of Kevin Hart, but this is absurd.

[arrogantmodel]

LOL at the Oscars being a "dream job."

Then why aren't people lined up to do it?

[Deleted]

I gotta shoutout to this forum again. As always, I see how people react to controversy and see a lot of wild comments but this forum remains level-headed and we're making posts and debating about this in a nice manner as we should. It's responses to things like this that I remain on the forum.

[Bub (BLM)]

Here's the funny part - a few years ago no one would have bat an eye at Bill Cosby or Kevin Spacey hosting. Going after people who've just said offensive shit is pointless, because anyone you get has done or said something equal or much worse, you just don't always know it.

My point is, no one is perfect, and going after people for off-color jokes is a waste of time and quite frankly pathetic.

[Joe Neglia]

Dec 7, 2018 17:12:11 GMT -5 arrogantmodel said:

LOL at the Oscars being a "dream job."

Then why aren't people lined up to do it?

To use it as a calling card to the hundreds of directors, producers and studios execs that are watching it? To get to show off knowing every A-list contemporary is watching them?

Yeah, to a lot of them it is a dream job

Also, they don't really take applications for the position.

[Mr PONYMANIA Mr Jenzie]

know who host the oscars?
FUNNYBOT
that's who!

[Magic knows Black Lives Matter]

Gotta say, him not apologizing for the tweets right away and deciding that THIS is the hill worth dying on is the dumbest shit I’ve seen in a minute. Way to lose a bag over something so petty AND morally reprehensible.

[Deleted]

Eh, he'll be fine.