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Saturday 5 January 2019

Fans explode with rage at Ellen DeGeneres after she reveals she phoned the Academy to lobby for Kevin Hart to be REINSTATED as Oscars host after homophobic remarks cost him the gig

Ellen DeGeneres is facing widespread backlash on Twitter over her interview with Kevin Hart, in which she dismissed those who have criticized the comic for making homophobic comments as 'haters' and 'trolls.' 
Appearing on Friday's episode of the Ellen DeGeneres show, the veteran talk show host revealed that she has been lobbying the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to again extend an offer to Hart to host the 91st Oscars ceremony next month, as she confessed she 'really wants him to host'.
Two days after he was tapped for the high-profile gig, Hart backed out when some of his tweets deriding homosexuals from a decade ago resurfaced.
But DeGeneres, who is openly gay, on Friday made a full-throated defense of the comedian and actor, saying he's apologized for his past remarks and grown from the experience.
'There are so many haters out there,' DeGeneres said, referring to Hart's detractors. 'Don't pay attention to them. That's a small group of people being very, very loud. We're a huge group of people who love you and want to see you host the Oscars.'  
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Shock: Kevin Hart has revealed he is still debating taking the hosting role at the Oscars despite stepping down last month due to a scandal over historic tweets
Shock: Kevin Hart has revealed he is still debating taking the hosting role at the Oscars despite stepping down last month due to a scandal over historic tweets
She later doubled down on her argument, saying that 'trolls' are going to win if Hart does not host the Academy Awards.
After the video of DeGeneres' interview with Hart went up online, Twitter exploded with messages accusing Ellen of turning her back on the LGBTQ community for the sake of her celebrity pal. 
'I can think of at least 50 openly gay up and coming comedians who deserve your awesome platform more than douche canoe Kevin and his blatant push for the Oscars gig,' actor Harry Cook tweeted. 
User Cindi Melendrez wrote: 'I have yet to read or hear a heart felt apology from KH? You should have asked him some tough questions instead of giving him a free pass because he's your pal. Everyone does deserve a 2nd chance BUT they need to show they are truly sorry for the initial "mistake."' 
Another post read: 'So disappointed. You give another celebrity like you a pass because that's what you all do: Protect each other. People, especially the rich and famous, need to be held accountable. If this had been a regular person on a job interview, he would never, ever be called back. Shame.'
Kevin Hart may return as Oscars host after Ellen interview
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A third chimed in: 'Nah Ellen - now is not the time. If he can show support, CONTINUOUS support, of the LGBT community then maybe sometime far in the future. But he has debts that need to be paid and sounding sad and sending a tweet is not how those are repaid.'
One segment of the LGBTQ community that took particular umbrage at DeGeneres' stance on Hart's past remarks were gay African-American men, who argued on Twitter that Ellen had no right to speak on their behalf, seeing how most of Hart's homophobic rants were aimed at them. 
'Ellen, this really wasn't your place to offer forgiveness because you weren't harmed in all of this,' journalist and activist George M Johnson said in a Twitter video Friday. 'So to allow Kevin Hart to come on your show, basically speak for six minutes straight, uninterrupted, where you don't challenge him on any of the things he said is just a disservice.' 
Others, however, expressed support for both DeGeneres and Hart, praising the talk show host for teaching a lesson in forgiveness and insisting that the comedian was genuinely contrite. 
'You never cease to amaze me, Ellen, for always keeping it real,' a fan tweeted. 'You are on the right side of this. Kevin has apologized but he has done better than that. He learned about the unintended consequences of word choice and has altered his language to better reflect his beliefs.'
Another supporter sounded a similar note: 'The way you handled this just reinforces that you have a big heart and are such a reasonable, fair, rational person. So many people jump on bandwagons, close their eyes, and hang on. You're not a side or an affiliation. You're a person. And you treat others that same way.' 
During the controversial sit-down, DeGeneres told Hart that she has contacted the Academy and was told that organizers of the Oscars ceremony still want him to host and are interested in making it happen. 
Hart admitted his is 'evaluating' the idea.  
In response to her support, Kevin said: 'Leaving here I promise you I’m evaluating this conversation. This is a conversation I needed to have, I’m glad I had it here. I’m glad it’s as authentic and real as I could’ve hoped it would be.' 
Sources told PEOPLE: 'There has been a steady stream of buzz that things might work out between Kevin and the Academy. The Academy never really axed him - they wanted him to apologise - he wouldn't, and then he was the one to drop out... 
'A lot of people at the Academy are scratching their heads because he did what they wanted him to do so really he didn't need to quit in that case...
'Everyone has noticed that it's not like the Academy just pivoted to someone else; Kevin is clearly well aware that the job is still wide open. But meanwhile, he has needed to do his own clean-up work in terms of his image after all of this.'
Open and honest: Appearing on Friday's episode of Ellen DeGeneres' show, the legendary chat show star revealed she has been lobbying the Academy in the hope of his return to the role as she confessed she 'really wants him to host'
Open and honest: Appearing on Friday's episode of Ellen DeGeneres' show, the legendary chat show star revealed she has been lobbying the Academy in the hope of his return to the role as she confessed she 'really wants him to host'
Resurfaced: Internet users searched through the funnyman's tweets to discover his excess of vile slurs prior to becoming famous in the mainstream
Resurfaced: Internet users searched through the funnyman's tweets to discover his excess of vile slurs prior to becoming famous in the mainstream
Not interested... As the controversy rumbled on, he tweeted shortly after 'I have made the choice to step down from hosting this year's Oscars'
Not interested... As the controversy rumbled on, he tweeted shortly after 'I have made the choice to step down from hosting this year's Oscars'
The scandal erupted last month when tweets dated from 2009 to 2011 resurfaced in which the comedian spewed blatant anti-gay rhetoric.
In 2011, he wrote in a since-deleted tweet: 'Yo if my son comes home & try's 2 play with my daughters doll house I'm going 2 break it over his head & say n my voice ''stop that's gay.''
The comedian has since deleted the tweets, but that wasn't before screen captures began circulating online, gaining widespread criticism.
Shock reaction: Kevin responded to the ultimatum in the video asserting that he chose to 'pass on the apology' because he had 'addressed this several times'
Shock reaction: Kevin responded to the ultimatum in the video asserting that he chose to 'pass on the apology' because he had 'addressed this several times'
Ellen urges Kevin Hart to reconsider and host the Oscars 2019
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Following the historic reveal, Kevin shared an Instagram video in which he confessed that the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences had given him an ultimatum: 'Apologise for the comments or they would seek a new host'. 
Kevin responded to the ultimatum in the video asserting that he chose to 'pass on the apology' because he had 'addressed this several times'.
He said: 'The reason that I passed is I've addressed it several times. That's not the first time this has come up. I've addressed it. I've spoken on it. I've said where the rights and wrongs were. I've said who I am now versus who I was then. I've done it'.
Less than two hours later the star changed his tune, issuing an apology to the LGBTQ community along with his resignation as Oscars host.
The big reveal: Since then, there hasn't been any word from the Academy, with Deadline reporting that their, 'highly reliable sources' indicating that no one in Hollywood is interested in hosting, after the, 'Hart debacle'
The big reveal: Since then, there hasn't been any word from the Academy, with Deadline reporting that their, 'highly reliable sources' indicating that no one in Hollywood is interested in hosting, after the, 'Hart debacle'
Kevin Hart responds to backlash over old homophobic tweets
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As the controversy rumbled on, he tweeted shortly after: 'I have made the choice to step down from hosting this year's Oscar's....
'This is because I do not want to be a distraction on a night that should be celebrated by so many amazing talented artists... I sincerely apologize to the LGBTQ community for my insensitive words from my past.'   
Since then, there hasn't been any word from the Academy, with Deadline reporting that their, 'highly reliable sources' indicating that no one in Hollywood is interested in hosting, after the, 'Hart debacle.' 
With less than two months until the telecast on February 24, and no host named for yet, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences are considering drastic alternatives.
There had previously been rumors that the Academy was considering using multiple hosts, with Deadline reporting that this is an option once again, as is using no host at all.
Neither the Academy nor producers Donna Gigliotti and Glenn Weiss have commented on the hosting vacancy, and haven't even officially confirmed that previous host Kevin has bowed out.

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