While a great deal of people are complaining about Hart over the simple fact that they find him annoying, there are also those pointing out Hart's penchant for homophobia in his standup. In his 2010 special Seriously Funny, Hart explained that he would be do everything in his power to prevent his son from "growing up and being gay."
Though Hart has since clarified that "there's nothing wrong with being gay" and chalked up the joke to a time "before things got as PC as they are now," a number of Twitter users are none too pleased with Hart's next hosting gig:
"One of my biggest fears is my son growing up and being gay." -- Kevin Hart, new host of the Oscars.
β Wheeler @ Shout Out (@Wheeler) December 5, 2018
Lmao Kevin Hart is hosting the Star Is Born Oscars. https://t.co/No1QM7RJBq
β bobby finger (@bobbyfinger) December 5, 2018
Really? One of the most HOMOPHOBIC ACTORS/COMEDIANS ALIVE TODAY? ππ‘ Yeah good plan, Academy.
β SoundersMutts (@Kimaluli) December 5, 2018
Does @TheAcademy know about @KevinHart4real's history of homophobia? How can they claim to care about diversity and then pick this man as host? I'll be skipping the Oscars this year.
β Dan Holohan (@dxholaa) December 5, 2018
Kevin hart is gonna walk on stage at the oscars and do his "my worst fear is my son being gay π€ͺπ" sketch
β josh (@biIIywilder) December 5, 2018
I'm asking myself why gay hating Kevin Hart is hosting the the Oscars? The Academy has been about inclusion and now it's headed back to the past promoting anti gay views through its endorsement of hart.
β SpeediegATL (@SPEEDIEGATL) December 5, 2018
.@KevinHart4real I trust on Hollywood's biggest night with a year filled with films with strong LGBTQ characters and themes, you'll leave the "I hope my son doesn't grow up gay" jokes in your other tux? https://t.co/vhBfEiyxlQ
β Big Gay IrishBearAZ (@irishbearaz) December 5, 2018
And the Oscar for most homophobic host ever goes to... pic.twitter.com/fw9DTjSrhx
β Benjamin Lee (@benfraserlee) December 5, 2018
Some took it a step further, bringing up Hart's scandalous past involving domestic violence and infidelity:
Considering how many of the Oscars' biggest fans are women and gay men it's quite something for the Academy to hire a guy who beat one wife, cheated on another when she was eight months pregnant and said one of his biggest fears is his son growing up and being gay.
β Erik Anderson (@awards_watch) December 5, 2018
The 91st Academy Awards broadcast will air on February 24. Nominations for the awards will be announced on January 22.