A New York Times editor defended embattled comedian Kevin Hart who stepped down as host of the 2019 Academy Awards amid backlash over his old tweets that were insulting to the ghey community.
In a deleted tweet from 2011, Hart wrote: “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.”
Hart announced early Friday morning that he “made the decision to step down” from hosting the 91st annual Academy Awards. He also apologized twice to anyone he may have offended.
In an opinion piece published in Friday’s edition of the NY Times, editor Susan Fowler defended Hart, saying the social media uproar over his old tweets from 2009-2011 sets “unattainable” standards.
“In holding people accountable for their old views — even ones they realized were wrong and apologized for — we are setting standards that nobody can meet,” Fowler wrote.
Putting herself in Hart’s shoes, she wrote,
“I want to have the chance to realize what I’ve done, change my view, correct the mistake and learn from it. I’m pretty sure that every one of you, if put in the hot seat, would want the same.”
She specifically addressed the current environment on social media, where people in glass houses throw stones at those who make mistakes that are part of being human.
“The truth is, we are all guilty. Can you name a person who has not lied, said something inappropriate or hurt another? I can’t,” she wrote. “We must be careful about the world we are creating in the age of social media, especially since there’s no turning back.”
The public backlash over Hart’s old tweets is just one example of the court of public opinion running amok online. Another example is the social media uproar over Nicki Minaj’s new boyfriend Kenny Petty, whose criminal record was published on blogs and dragged through the mud on social media over the weekend.
Nicki’s fans flooded her timeline with comments about her poor judgment and questionable character.
True, Petty was convicted of raping a 16-year-old girl — but he was also 16 when the crime was committed in 1995. He served his time and he paid his debt to society.
GLAAD (formerly Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) said Hart “missed a real opportunity” by stepping down as host of the Oscars. GLAAD CEO and president Sarah Kate Ellis said in a statement that Hart should have “stepped up” and used his platform to build “unity and awareness” about the ghey community.
“The Academy has recently made significant strides in featuring diverse talent onstage and they should now double down on that commitment as they look for a new host,” Ellis added.
In other words, the Academy should consider an openly ghey or transgender host for the 91st annual Oscar Awards.
Photo by Phillip Faraone/Getty Images
