Ellen DeGeneres has promised an “honest conversation” when Kevin Hart appears on her chat show to discuss the controversy over his doomed hosting of the Oscars.
The US comedian and actor was named as host for next month’s Academy Awards but pulled out after homophobic tweets, originally posted between 2009 and 2011, resurfaced.
Hart, 39, initially rejected the Academy’s demand he apologise, arguing he said sorry when the offending tweets first emerged.
I had an incredible and honest conversation with @KevinHart4real about hosting the #Oscars. It was supposed to air on Monday. I don’t want you to have to wait, so now it’s gonna air tomorrow.
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) January 4, 2019
Now, DeGeneres, who is openly gay, has announced he will appear on Friday’s episode of her chat show to discuss the controversy.
She tweeted: “I had an incredible and honest conversation with @KevinHart4real about hosting the #Oscars. It was supposed to air on Monday. I don’t want you to have to wait, so now it’s gonna air tomorrow.”
The 2019 Oscars are due to take place on February 24 and a replacement host is yet to be named.
It is only the third time this century that the search for the host has dragged on into the calendar year of the show itself, following actress Whoopi Goldberg’s taking the job in 2002 and comedian Jon Stewart performing hosting duties in 2006.
Hart, who has starred in films including Ride Along and Get Hard, stepped down from the role after tweets resurfaced which contained offensive language towards the LGBT community.
Announcing the news on Twitter in December, Hart said: “I have made the choice to step down from hosting this year’s Oscar’s…this is because I do 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. My goal is to bring people together not tear us apart. Much love & appreciation to the Academy. I hope we can meet again.”