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Kevin Hart Still Doesn't Get Homophobia After Gaslighting Lil Nas X
Has Kevin Hart reckoned with his homophobic past?
Comedian Kevin Hart is in hot water again after he interrupted rapper Lil Nas X opening up about his recent coming out.
A clip from an upcoming episode of HBO's barbershop-style talk show The Shop: Uninterrupted begins with the host asking Lil Nas X, "With all that early success [refering to his record-breaking hit song "Old Town Road"], you felt it was important to make an announcement recently?"
Kevin Hart, who quit his Oscar hosting gig earlier this year over the resurfacing of anti-gay tweets, picked that moment to jump in to say, "He said he was gay! So what?"
The host doubles down on his question, "Why did he feel it was necessary to come out and say that?"
Lil Nas speaks carefully about his decision to share his sexuality with his fans on the last day of Pride Month this past June. "It's not that it's being forced. It's just like knowing like, growing up...I'm growing up to hate that shit."
"Hate what?" Hart interrupted. "Hate what?"
"Homosexuality. Gay people," Lil Nas said plainly.
"Why?" asked Hart. "Why are you growing up to hate it?"
"Come on now," said Lil Nas. "If you're really from the hood, you know. For me, the cool dude with the song on top of everything, to say this any other time, I'm doing this for attention in my eyes. But if you're doing this while you're at the top, you know its for real and you're showing it doesn't really matter I guess."
\u201c.@lilnasx speaks the truth about his choice to come out while at the top. More of The Shop on @HBO now!\u201d— UNINTERRUPTED (@UNINTERRUPTED) 1567566686
The clip went viral on Twitter, and viewers are concerned with Hart's confusion over the casually homophobic culture that keeps people in the closet, especially since he contributed to it. "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,'" reads one of the then 31-year-old's tweets. "How many 'gay' men sweat when they wear dress shirts because real men don't lmao p.s fag," he wrote in another tweet from 2009. He also has a history of anti-gay jokes in his stand-up shows.
Hart has apologized for all of the comments over the years, but many are questioning if he ever actually reckoned with his past "jokes" and understands why they are so damaging—especially for young Black boys.
\u201cLol Kevin Hart was just in trouble for saying he\u2019d break a dollhouse over his son\u2019s head for being gay but he\u2019s asking Nas X why would he hate being gay. This is how oblivious str8 people are.\u201d— stushy (@stushy) 1567595203
\u201cKevin Hart acting like he doesn\u2019t know why Lil Nas X would be scared to come out is like someone who stole the thing you lost helping you look for it.\u201d— Phillip (@Phillip) 1567601691
\u201c@uninterrupted @LilNasX @HBO "I'm growing up knowing to hate that shit"\n*cut to Kevin hart*\u201d— UNINTERRUPTED (@UNINTERRUPTED) 1567566686
None— UNINTERRUPTED (@UNINTERRUPTED) 1567566686
According to BuzzFeed News, later in the episode "Hart told Lil Nas that 'in no way shape or form should' he have to 'defend' himself by coming out and saying, 'But guys, this is what I am.'"
Hart was in a car accident this past Labor Day weekend where he sustained "major back injuries" but he's reportedly going to be fine.
Taylor Henderson is a PRIDE.com contributor. This proud Texas Bama studied Media Production/Studies and Sociology at The University of Texas at Austin, where he developed his passions for pop culture, writing, and videography. He's absolutely obsessed with Beyoncé, mangoes, and cheesy YA novels that allow him to vicariously experience the teen years he spent in the closet. He's also writing one!
Taylor Henderson is a PRIDE.com contributor. This proud Texas Bama studied Media Production/Studies and Sociology at The University of Texas at Austin, where he developed his passions for pop culture, writing, and videography. He's absolutely obsessed with Beyoncé, mangoes, and cheesy YA novels that allow him to vicariously experience the teen years he spent in the closet. He's also writing one!
