Kevin Hart Declares No Return to Oscars Hosting, Citing Evolving Comedy Landscape

Kevin Hart has firmly stated that he will not be returning to host the Oscars, reiterating his decision after stepping down from the role in 2019 due to controversy surrounding past “anti-gay” tweets and comments made a decade ago. The acclaimed comedian maintains that the landscape of awards shows, particularly the Oscars and the Golden Globes, has shifted away from being conducive to comedy.

In an interview with Sky News’ Bethany Minelle, Hart expressed his belief that comedians no longer dominate the hosting role, advocating for a more collaborative approach. He contends that the current environment, marked by heightened scrutiny over sensitive topics and what constitutes a joke, makes it challenging for comedians to succeed in hosting these events.

Hart stated, “Whatever little hope you had, I want to destroy it right now. Those gigs aren’t good gigs for comics. It’s no shot to the Oscars, no shot to the Globes, or anything else. Those just aren’t comedy-friendly environments anymore. I think they got it right one year where it was like just a bunch of personalities acting as the hosts and that’s a nice thing. It’s a collaborative thing, different people get to be responsible for act one, act two, act three, but you know, the days of it being a room for a comic, those days are done.”

While expressing reservations about hosting awards shows, Hart acknowledged fellow comedians who have excelled in the role, including Chris Rock, Billy Crystal, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Ricky Gervais, whom he praised for “cracking the code” and delivering memorable performances.

Having previously hosted the BET Awards, the MTV Video Music Awards, and the MTV Movie Awards, Hart understands the dynamics of awards show hosting. He emphasized that his industry connections provided an advantage, making the hosting experience more comfortable. However, he highlighted the greater challenges faced by comedians who lack such industry relationships.

“There’s a lot of people that understand that if you’re not an industry comic, meaning a comic that has the relationships of all, then those rooms are very cold. So, me doing it is, of course, at an advantage, because I know the room and for me, and familiar with so many. But, for others, it’s not the same,” he explained.

As Kevin Hart continues to thrive in his acting career, his latest Netflix film, “Lift,” began streaming on January 12th. The evolving landscape of comedy and hosting poses a question mark for awards shows, and it remains to be seen how they will adapt to these changes.