Kevin Hart can’t seem to catch a break.
Yesterday, the 39-year-old comedian, who’s history of antigay jokes and tweets recently came back to haunt him, responded to the racist and homophobic attack against Jussie Smollett in an Instagram post, calling the incident “unbelievably sad” and decrying society going “backwards.”
This is unbelievably sad. Why are we going backwards….this is disgusting. We as people have to do better. WTF is going on the world???? Why are we falling in love with hate???? God damn it people….Choose love…I repeat…Choose love. I will forever choose love and I will continue to teach my kids how to do the same. Stand strong brother.
The remarks were also posted to Hart’s Twitter page, where they were quickly met with sharp criticism.
Do you see why the “jokes” weren’t funny now??
— Bethany West (@niale_west) January 30, 2019
You should have just sat there and ate your food, Kevin. Ain’t nobody trying to watch you use this for an op.
— Dimitrius Jones (@iDimitriusJones) January 30, 2019
But keep joking about beating up your kid for being gay, Kevin Hart!
— sam greisman (@SAMGREIS) January 29, 2019
Related: Twitter rips into Kevin Hart and D.L. Hughley for their remarks on Jussie Smollett’s attack
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Hart wasted no time hitting back. In response to the criticism, he tweeted:
I stand with a man in his time of hurt and need by giving him heart felt support and u take the time to harp on my 10yr past that I have apologized about and moved on from by being a better person. Do you want change? If so I am an example of what u want people to do…CHANGE! https://t.co/Ybbo8OYKTt
— Kevin Hart (@KevinHart4real) January 30, 2019
Unfortunately, just like his initial tweet, this one also didn’t go over well either…
I “harp” because my community of black queer people face violence 365 in America and when we tried to tell you that we weren’t trolling you but wanted to educate how your jokes lead to actions like what happened to Jussie, you went on Ellen to talk about your wheelchair movie. https://t.co/bGXkNVQsTl
— Ira (@ira) January 31, 2019
Seriously dude, if you’d made a sincere apology when this started 3 months ago, none of this would have happened.
— ceej (@ceejopolis) January 31, 2019
Where is the change ????? pic.twitter.com/lqNZehfBLF
— hiVeiga (@yoGuaGua) January 31, 2019
Stop. Listen. Learn.
— Sunshine206 (@cabney206) January 31, 2019
You haven’t changed. That’s why.
— Believe In Yves (@AdamantxYves) January 31, 2019
how nice that you can easily move on from your history of using ur massive platform to dehumanize Black LGBTQ folks!
The thousands of Black LGBTQ folks who will face violence because people like you helped normalize homophobia in Black communities might have a harder time tho
— DigitalBridget ?? (@BridgetMarie) January 31, 2019
Where is the change, sweetie? pic.twitter.com/dTiwLdqruW
— Aasha Collins (@aashacollinsxo) January 31, 2019
Too little, too late, Mr Hart. Maybe try to make real amends now?
— Zach Émieux (@militant_homo) January 31, 2019
Actually, you didn’t apologize. You just wanted everyone to drop it and move on with the subject.
— love, just me. (@aimeswick) January 30, 2019
It has become quite clear that self-reflection is not Kevin Hart’s strong suit. The man is incapable of understanding why his words and actions are problematic and he’s never going to give people the proper apology they want. At some point, folks are simply going to have to move on. In the meantime, Mr. Hart might consider taking a nice, long vacation, somewhere warm and tropical, without WiFi or access to social media.
Related: 5 questions we wish Ellen would ask Kevin Hart after the Jussie Smollett assault
Kangol
Queerty, to quote you(rself): “At some point, folks are simply going to have to move on.” So let’s try that; he’s a creep, he cannot or refuses to understand not only why he was criticized for his homophobia but also how it directly harms someone like Jussie Smollett, whom he claims to be supporting, and he’s not going to change anytime soon, so just drop it. I know he generates clicks and outrage but there are other stories out there to tell. Just check the Advocate, Towleroad, etc.
PoetDaddy
The ADVOCATE? Is someone still publishing The ADVOCATE?
Kangol
@PoetDaddy, Google (or Bing, Duck Go, etc.) can answer that question for you in milliseconds. But yes, it’s online!
Curtispsf
C’mon people. Stop with all the “Hart Ons”. Kevin Hart tweets a message of support to Jussie Smollett and he’s STILL raked over the coals. If he hadn’t tweeted a message of support, there would be SOME queens saying “He’s SO insensitive for NOT supporting Jussie”. Dude can’t win, no matter what he does. At SOME point, people need to let go of their outrage and move on. I’m NOT saying that his past remarks don’t count; they do but how about we allow, just allow for the possibility that he’s grown and evolved…just like how Obama’s views on gay marriage evolved? Or do we need a public crucifixion of Hart before people are finally satisfied?
dinard38
Well said. I mean….. Come On!!!!! Enough already!!!! Like you said, the man can’t win. Even if he did another more sincere apology, it wouldn’t be enough. Not sincere enough. Too little too late. He didn’t have a tear in his eye, etc.
I truly wish the LGBTQ community would pick and choose its battles more carefully. No one should have been attacking Kevin Hart for his well wishes to Jussie. That was just ridiculous!
bowlingbutch
Give him a chance to try and change. It usually doesn’t happen over night. I think it is growth with his message to Jussie. See what he does from now on and if he starts the hurtful, distasteful remarks again, then call him out on it.
AlanBap62
I am a gay man. I know that Kevin Hart said things that are hurtful to the LGBTQ community. However, how long does he have to pay for it? Racism, homophobia and all prejudices will continue especially because it seems that those of us who wish to end them display only hate to those who are prejudiced. Is our goal to destroy those who are prejudiced and say or do hurtful things, or is it to teach them that prejudice is wrong and forgive them for their errors? If we return hate with hate, nothing will change. And, another thing: everyone is reading Kevin Hart’s mind. How do you know he hasn’t learned a lesson and grown and changed? How do you know he isn’t saddened and sincere about the Jusse incident? I think it’s amazing how everyone is so high and mighty and able to judge someone. Everyone is so perfect!
martyjim
I’m with Hart on this. For God’s sake, people can grow and change. When they are mired in ignorance and fear, they can say horribly hateful things. But they also have the capacity to become enlightened and recognize their past ignorance. He sounds genuine to me. Really, what’s the big risk in forgiving and taking him at his word?
MISTERJETT
i would love to know if he apologized to his son for threatening violence toward him.
PinkoOfTheGange
Why Why Why did he have to respond to the haters.
There was no way to win. Dude read art of war.
piriblue
Saying I’m sorry does not mean you don’t feel a certain way. Peer pressure makes us say things we don’t really mean. Same way when we get drunk we loose all of our inhibitions.
jcoberkrom
Poor Kevin. It’s all about him!!! Why anyone would want him as a spokesperson is beyond me.
Terrycloth
Kevin dosen’t know how to just shut up and lay low and be quiet..its a damn if you do damned if you dont. Best to avoid trouble and disappear for awhile.
WindsorOntario
Good gravy…Kevin Hart is unpleasant to look at. He looks at least 10 years older than 39.
This man is no different from Trump supporters. You can tell him how he needs to be more sensitive or more understanding or tolerant of the gay community. Never gonna happen. These kinds of people made up their minds years ago and nothing you say or do or make him understand will change anything.