The Academy Awards are a big event for film lovers every year. There seems to be extra anticipation for this year's ceremony. This is because it seems like newly acclaimed actress Lady Gaga may take home the statue for Best Actress. While that would inevitably make our gay hearts very happy, the host of the show would need to do the same. On the surface, Kevin Hart seemed like an ideal host. But this is 2018 and if you look for something bad, chances are you're going to find it.
Very shortly after the announcement, several past tweets from Hart emerged. These were tweets of jokes. I never think it's a good idea for comedians to work out their stand-up routine via Twitter, because it tends to come back to haunt them. There were homophobic slurs and comments about how he wouldn't accept his son as gay. The academy gave Hart a choice between publicly apologizing for his tweets or losing the opportunity of a lifetime. Hart declined to apologize claiming that he explained himself since then. Several people spoke out on both sides of the argument. Hart eventually did apologize via Twitter and revealed he stepped down as host because he didn't want to be a distraction.
I don't think Hart should've apologized. Prior to his apology, Hart said via Instagram that we too often feed the internet trolls. I agree with that statement. The fact that Hart's past tweets made headlines so soon after he was announced as host is very telling. There seemed to be a lynch mob mentality targeting Hart. Whenever a celebrity apologizes these days, it comes across as phony. They're apologizing because they got caught and want to avoid scandal. They don't want their career destroyed. This doesn't actually help the celebrity at all. What it does, is give the lynch mob more power. In order to take power away from these trolls, public figures need to stop apologizing.
Hart had previously explained himself in an interview with Rolling Stone magazine. He said that the joke about his son in particular was meant to be ironic. "The funny thing within that joke is it's me getting mad at my son because of my own insecurities — I panicked," he said. "It has nothing to do with him, it's about me." I understand this explanation and I'm inclined to believe him. If I were Hart, I would've posted a screenshot of this quote without saying anything. This is what comedy is based on. The whole reason we find what stand-up comedians say funny is the absurdity of it all. Unfortunately, it seems like this is an art form that is losing it's power.
Lisa Lampanelli, dubbed as the "Queen of Mean," recently announced she was retiring from stand-up. Lampanelli is an insult comic who often makes jokes about racial stereotypes. She explained that the reason for her retirement is because her intentions to unite people would be understood better by becoming a life coach. I find this disheartening. Comedians shouldn't stop doing what they do because some people don't understand it. If their intentions are positive, they should keep going despite the criticism. There will always be critics.
Nick Cannon retweeted several past tweets from comedians Chelsea Handler, Amy Schumer, and Sara Silverman. These tweets included apparent jokes using the same homophobic slur Hart used. Cannon's point being that these women are given a pass, while Hart is being punished. Silverman appeared to respond by retweeting a post from a gay man. The man explained that since these female comedians were public activists for LGBTQ rights, their intentions were clearer.
I can see where this man is coming from. However, one doesn't need to be an outspoken activist for LGBT rights to support them or the community itself. Plus, jokes are jokes. If Hart explained his intentions weren't homophobic, I see no reason why his jokes are held to a different standard. Why is it okay to only question whether or not Hart is genuine? What if Handler, Schumer, and Silverman are just using the LGBTQ community for profit? Assumptions can be made about anybody, whether they're an outspoken activist or not.
I don't think assumptions should be made about anyone. I'm sure you know the saying about what making assumptions does. Comedy is an art form that is all about being politically incorrect. There is a reason these jokes are funny to people and comedians shouldn't have to apologize for them. Intent matters and punishing artists for expressing themselves should have no place in our society. That is a form of judgment that shouldn't be tolerated. After all, a world with less judgment is what we're all striving for.
