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PEOPLE & ARTS Saturday 8 december 2018

Hart steps down as Oscars host over his past anti-gay tweets

By JAKE COYLE thentic apology showing
Associated Press any bit of understanding or
NEW YORK (AP) — Just two remorse would have been
days after being named so simple."
host of the Academy It's not the first time an Os-
Awards, Kevin Hart stepped cars host has been de-
down following an outcry railed by anti-gay remarks.
over past homophobic Ahead of the 2012 Acad-
tweets by the comedian. emy Awards, producer
Capping a swift and dra- Brett Ratner, who had been
matic fallout, Hart wrote paired with host Eddie Mur-
on Twitter just after mid- phy, resigned days after
night Friday that he was using a gay slur at a film
withdrawing as Oscars host screening. Murphy soon af-
because he didn't want to ter exited, as well.
be a distraction. "I sincerely That year, a tried-and-true
apologize to the LGBTQ Oscars veteran — Billy Crys-
community for my insensi- tal — jumped in to save the
tive words from my past," show, hosting for his eighth
wrote Hart. time. This time, speculation
Hart, who is in Australia for has already been rampant
a comedy tour, also tweet- that few in Hollywood want
ed Friday morning: "The ul- the gig, for which few win
timate measure of a man glowing reviews.
is not where he stands in In this Dec. 11, 2017 file photo, Kevin Hart arrives at the Los Angeles premiere of "Jumanji: The film academy moved
moments of comfort and Welcome to the Jungle" in Los Angeles. up this year's ceremony to
convenience, but where Associated Press Feb. 24, giving producers
he stands at times of chal- several times." that critics should "stop be- mophobic, I have nothing little time to find a replace-
lenge and controversy. The film academy didn't ing negative" about his ear- against gay people, do ment.
Martin Luther King, Jr." respond to messages Thurs- lier anti-gay remarks. what you want to do, but At a Hollywood event Thurs-
Earlier Thursday evening, day evening. "I'm almost 40 years old. me, being a heterosexual day night, comedian Kathy
the comedian had refused Hart has since deleted If you don't believe that male, if I can prevent my Griffin, whose career suf-
to apologize for tweets that some of the anti-gay people change, grow, son from being gay, I will," fered last year when she
resurfaced after he was tweets, mostly dated from evolve? I don't know what Hart said. posted a photo on social
announced as Oscars host 2009-2011. But they had to tell you," said Hart, who GLAAD, the advocacy media that looked like
on Tuesday. In a video on already been screen-cap- added, in all-caps: "I love group for LGBTQ rights, said a beheaded President
Instagram, Hart said the tured and been shared on- everybody." Thursday that it reached Donald Trump, said Hart
Academy of Motion Pic- line. In 2011, he wrote in a Hart's attitudes about ho- out to Oscars broadcast- messed up, yet had empa-
tures Arts and Sciences since-deleted tweet: "Yo if mosexuality were also er ABC, the Academy of thy for the situation.
gave him an ultimatum: my son comes home & try's a well-known part of his Motion Pictures Arts and "He wrote that tweet eight
apologize or "we're going 2 play with my daughters stand-up act. In the 2010 Sciences, and Hart's man- years ago when gay mar-
to have to move on and doll house I'm going 2 break special "Seriously Funny," agement to "discuss Kevin's riage wasn't even legal yet,
find another host." it over his head & say n my he said "one of my biggest anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and re- so we all do things. God
"I chose to pass on the voice 'stop that's gay.'" fears is my son growing up cord." knows in my 23 specials I've
apology," Hart said. "The In an earlier post Thursday, and being gay." Comedian and actor Billy said heinously inappropri-
reason why I passed is be- Hart wrote on Instagram "Keep in mind, I'm not ho- Eichner said "a simple, au- ate things," she said.q
cause I've addressed this

After a year full of tears, Ariana Grande comes out on top

By MESFIN FEKADU rapper Mac Miller. Last my personal life goes, I re-
Associated Press year, a bombing at her ally have no idea what the
NEW YORK (AP) — Ariana concert in Manchester, (expletive) I am doing."
Grande capped off a suc- England killed 22 people. "It's been a very conflict-
cessful year as a pop star "I want to say that I find it in- ing one," she added. "I just
— but a trying one as a ma- teresting that this has been want to say if you're some-
turing young woman — at one of the best years in my one out there who has no
the 13th annual Billboard career and like the worst of idea what this next chap-
Women in Music event, my life," she told the audi- ter is going to bring, you're
where she was named ence in New York City at not alone in that."Grande's
Woman of the Year. Pier 36 on Thursday. "I feel successful year includ-
The 25-year-old singer was like a lot of people would ed another No. 1 album
teary-eyed at times during look at someone in my with "Sweetener" as well
her acceptance speech position right now, I guess, as multiple hits, from "No
as she reflected on her like Woman of the Year, an Tears Left to Cry" to "God
year, which included the artist that could be at her Is a Woman" to "Breathin." Ariana Grande attends the 13th annual Billboard Women in
Music event at Pier 36 on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018, in New York.
end of her relationship with peak ... and think, 'She's re- She sang "Thank U, Next" Associated Press
comedian-actor Pete Da- ally got her (stuff) together. — her first No. 1 smash on
vidson and the death of She's really on it. She's got it Billboard's Hot 100 chart including Alicia Keys, Dua honorees like Cyndi Lauper
her former boyfriend, the all.' And I do, but as far as — in front of the audience Lipa, music executives and and Janelle Monae.q