BREAKING: Kevin Hart Steps Down as Oscars Host, Apologizing to the LGBTQ Community for Homophobic Comments

Comedian Kevin Hart will not host the 2019 Academy Awards, he announced late Thursday night.

Over the course of just two days since the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Hart would host the next Oscars, a slew of his homophobic tweets and jokes began to go viral — causing round-the-clock criticism of both Hart and the Academy.

In a tweet, Hart said he had decided to step down from the role, apologizing for hurting people in the LGBTQ community and saying that he is “evolving.”

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

After the Tuesday announcement that Hart would host the awards ceremony, a tweet he posted in 2011 began to go viral.

“Yo if my son comes home & 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,” read the tweet, which Hart deleted on Thursday.

But several other tweets that Hart posted in recent years tell a similar story, mocking LGBTQ people repeatedly.

I just saw a nigga put a whole chicken wing in his mouth and pull it out with no meat on it!!!!!! God damn that was gay

— Kevin Hart (@KevinHart4real) May 23, 2009

It doesn’t appear that Hart’s apology is entirely of his own volition. In a video posted to Instagram just about an hour before announcing he was stepping down as Oscars host, Hart confessed that he received a call from the Academy telling him to apologize or face being replaced.

“I chose to pass. I passed on the apology,” said Hart in the video. “Reason why I passed is because I’ve addressed this several times.”

But after posting the video — in which Hart promises to “stand my ground,” he did indeed apologize.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has not yet responded to Hart’s stepping down, nor has it announced a replacement.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated.