LOS ANGELES (CNS) - In an interview set to air today, comedian Kevin Hart said he will consider changing his mind about hosting the Oscars after backing out last month over controversial comments made years earlier.
During an appearance on “The Ellen Show,” Hart credited host Ellen DeGeneres with giving him some things to think about and told her “let me assess, just to sit in space and really think and you and I will talk before anything else.”
Hart went on to say he has apologized numerous times for the homophobic tweets he sent out a decade ago, yet people continue to bring them up.
“I don't joke like that anymore, because that was wrong,” Hart told DeGeneres. “That was a guy just looking for laughs and that was stupid. I don't do that anymore.”
Hart said he decided to walk away from hosting the Oscars because he didn't want the show to become about him and his past tweets.
“I don't want to step on that stage and make that night about me and my past when you got people that have worked hard to step on that stage and receive an award,” Hart said. “I'm now taking away from all those moments because that night is now focused on something else.”
DeGeneres told Hart she called the Academy and asked them to reconsider having Hart host the show and said she received a positive response.
The full interview will air on NBC4 today at 3 p.m.