The drama surrounding the 91st Academy Awards rages on (and on). According to Variety, insiders are now saying the annual award ceremony will go without a host.
That’s right, folks. For the first time in over 30 years, the biggest night in movies will be host-less after comedian Kevin Hart pulled out of the gig and refused to apologize for 40+ homophobic tweets that resurfaced from his Twitter page.
Variety reports:
Producers will select a crop of A-listers to introduce various segments instead of relying on one marquee name to kick things off in a monologue filled with Trump zingers, said the insiders. The producers and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the group behind the Oscars, are scrambling to line up top talent needed to carry the telecast, which is just six weeks from airing live — on Feb. 24 — from Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre. Hand-wringing at the Academy has been palpable.
According to insiders, no one has been offered the opportunity to fill Hart’s space, and no offers are expected to be made.
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Related: Ellen has forgiven comedian Kevin Hart for his past homophobia & asked the Oscars to take him back
Meanwhile, Hart went on Good Morning America yesterday to say he’s “done” the whole thing.
“I’m over it,” he told Michael Strahan during a tense interview. “There’s no more conversation about it … I’m over that, I’m over the moment.”
When pressed on how he his views on LGBTQ people have “evolved”, Hart refused to answer the question.
“I’m not giving no more explanation of who I am,” he said. “I’m just done. If you didn’t [hear the apology], I don’t know what you’re looking for. I’m a good person, I love to love, if you don’t see that then it’s a problem with you.”
"I'm not giving no more explanation of who I am."@KevinHart4real one-on-one with @michaelstrahan, responds and talks #Oscars controversy: https://t.co/W1vUNMab63 pic.twitter.com/Wus0zViVry
— Good Morning America (@GMA) January 9, 2019
The 91st Academy Awards are set to take place at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles on February 25. Last year’s show delivered an all-time low in ratings, down nearly 20% from the year before, to 26.5 million viewers.
For some reason, we don’t think this year’s ratings will me much better.
Related: Twitter users aren’t forgiving Ellen DeGeneres for forgiving Kevin Hart
Brian
So after a series of non-apologies, now he blames anyone who is bothered by his comments. It would be better if he stopped talking now.
Scout
Actually, it would be better if the media stopped interviewing him and shut about him. Then he’d stop talking.
Bromancer7
It would be best if both of those things happened.
cynicalsteve
The Oscars without a host …?! Oh my heavens! *clutches pearls* bitch please. Who really cares…
OzJosh
It’s also not a first, as this story claims. There have been several previous Oscars in which there have been multiple hosts, which is what they are now planning to do.
Jacksdaddy
@OzJosh. Read the second paragraph again. It clearly states, “for the first time in over thirty years…”
Terrycloth
This whiny ***** apologizes then takes it back and is on tv claiming hes the victim.. He KNEW the Instagram and tweets would come back and bite him,he tried deleting them when he was offered hosting gig..now hes on GMA refusing to talk about it .why did you go on the show.oh right hes got a new movie with Bryan Cranston. Hes not sorry his act is full of gay jokes and so are his movies..I’ll believe him when he speaks out against bullying & homophobia
UKGAY
He not only said what he said in tweets, it is also in one of his tv specials too
Mikestuff
Is this still a thing? I already didn’t like Kevin Hart but I’m not sure I can like him even less.
Just quit covering this story. Nothing new
gtsanity
He should have said …telling gay jokes is just a preference.