Won't host Oscars again, award shows aren't comedy-friendly anymore: Kevin Hart
Kevin Hart has emphatically stated that he will not be hosting the Oscars again. His initial plan to host the 2019 Oscars was abandoned amid controversy surrounding past anti-gay tweets and comments from a decade ago made during stand-up routines. Speaking to Sky News, Hart emphasized his decision, stating that hosting such events is not conducive to comedy anymore.
Expressing his perspective, Hart said, «Whatever little hope you had, I want to destroy it right now. Those gigs aren't good gigs for comics. It's no shot to the Oscars, no shot to the Globes or anything else. Those just aren't comedy-friendly environments anymore.» Hart mentioned a year when hosts were personalities rather than comics, and he acknowledged the success of fellow comics like Chris Rock, Billy Crystal, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Ricky Gervais in navigating hosting duties.
He commended those who have «cracked the code» early on, emphasizing that for industry comics with extensive relationships, hosting is an advantage. However, he noted that the landscape has changed, stating, «It's not the gig that it was of old. It's too much pressure on the idea of a comic and what's jokes and not jokes. So, it's tough.»
Hart, who has hosted events like the BET Awards, MTV Video Music Awards, and MTV Movie Awards, underlined that the dynamics have shifted, and these high-profile hosting roles no longer offer the same comedic-friendly environment. Despite this, Hart is set to star in the Netflix film «Lift,» which started streaming on January 12.
