Indigenous Critics Not Pleased That Kevin Hart Will Host Oscars
Comedian Kevin Hart ("Night School") announced on Instagram yesterday (December 4) that he will host the upcoming 91st Academy Awards in 2019.
"I am so happy to say that the day has finally come for me to host the Oscars," he wrote. "To be able to join the legendary list of host [sic] that have graced that stage is unbelievable."
The Academy confirmed Hart's announcement on Twitter.
Welcome to the family, @kevinhart4real! #Oscars https://t.co/vfcxAeJlwQ
— The Academy (@TheAcademy) December 5, 2018
The New York Times reports that Hart joins Chris Rock, Whoopi Goldberg and Richard Pryor on the short list of Black comedians to host the annual film awards ceremony.
USA Today reported last month that the host and his wife, Eniko Hart, threw a "cowboys and Indians" party for their son Kenzo's first birthday. Eniko Hart posted photos of the celebration on Instagram on Thanksgiving (November 22). Hart rejected accusations of cultural insensitivity and appropriation by admonishing critics for being too sensitive and missing the point on his Sirius XM show, "Straight From the Hart."
"This isn’t a racial slur that people are doing and being malicious with," Hart explained, as quoted by USA Today. "This is a game that’s been played for years."
.@KevinHart4real on dressing up kids as Native Americans: “This is a game that’s been played for years.” Blackface was accepted for decades, so it’s ok when some jackass wears it? It’s always been, so let’s keep doing it? Fuck that. Racism kills. #NotYourMascot #NotYourCostume pic.twitter.com/Oshq2QbKZ9
— tara houska (@zhaabowekwe) November 29, 2018
Several Indigenous Twitter users and allies reminded followers of the incident after Hart announced his new gig:
Well #NativeTwitter, @TheAcademy has decided to take a step back in the way they respect Indigenous people by allowing an unapologetic and anti-native @KevinHart4real the mic this year as Host for the Oscars.
— Johnnie Jae aka The Brown Ball of Fury (@johnniejae) December 5, 2018
Megyn Kelly said racist-blackface was OK and her show was cancelled. Kevin Hart promoted and defended his racist-native American party & he gets the Oscar gig? Okayyy. ?
— Frank Grimes (@frankgrimes2570) December 5, 2018
So @TheAcademy did this. Will Kevin Hart host in #redface since he doesn't have a problem with it?
— Frances Danger (@FrancesMFDanger) December 5, 2018
It was tokenism when they trotted out Wes Studi last year at the Oscars (after a short film on representation & inclusion, which neither represented nor included Native Americans).