Kevin Hart.
(Image credit: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Actor and comedian Kevin Hart on Thursday night said he will not host the 2019 Oscars, just days after it was announced he had the gig.

His decision to step down came as he faced backlash after homophobic tweets he made in 2009 and 2010 resurfaced. Hart said he does "not want to be a distraction on a night that should be celebrated by so many amazing talented artists. I sincerely apologize to the LGBTQ community for my insensitive words from my past. I'm sorry that I hurt people. I am evolving and want to continue to do so." He also gave his "love" to the Academy, adding, "I hope we can meet again."

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Catherine Garcia, The Week US

Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.