it sounds like he has sincerely apologized. I watched Don Lemon last night when Don encouraged Kevin Hart to apologize. Did Don feel that his apology was sincere?

But I also think Don was personally hurt by Hart saying it was never his life's dream to be an ally, as he said: "make of that what you want."

I think he believes that Kevin Hart is sorry and has learned and changed, but wishes he would do more as an ally to promote LGBTQ causes.

I could see maybe arguing 'he really just wants that Oscar's gig' ... and being cynical for that reason, but ... there's nothing wrong with him feeling he's not done enough, at least not in a public enough fashion ... and as as such, still wanting to atone for being wrong. I don't think that's 'stupid shit'. Nobody made him do it, after all ...

I don't.

This is some selective outrage stuff

is exactly the same as publicly advocating gay kids be beaten by their parents.

That is NOT an apology. That is implying he shouldn't state his own beliefs for fame and fortune reasons.

It sounds like he finally did a decent apology and I applaud him for that.

Sid

He kept saying he did, but he didn’t.

I think the only reason he’s doing so now is because of pressure from sponsors and his worries about his movie.

He could’ve got out in front of this in the beginning, but instead weaseled and sulked and whined and tried to act like the victim.

Straight white middle aged male here.

I don't see hate in his eyes. Whatever he said or posted before I am not specifically aware of. Not an excuse but he could have just simply not been familiar AND there are elements/venues where it was perfectly fine to say what he did. Give the audience what they want. That doesn't make it okay but he was grinding out a shot at the dream.

I'd guess that he's had a lot more exposure to the LGBTQ world over the last few years.

One thing that I found interesting was when he was on Seinfeld's Comedians in Cars getting coffee - Jerry was talking to him about something and Hart just looked at him and said something like "You have to realize, This has all happened to me in the last 5 years". Jerry was clearly shocked. He was doing stand up for years and then suddenly he was a star. Naturally funny too.

Its not like the LGBT community is so ideologically pure.

Or - just by virtue of being gay, you are automatically a great liberal or progressive person.

I find LGBT folk in my rural PA area to be about as racist - if not moreso, than the general population.

Always surprising when I hear it. But rednecks to tend to be rednecks - gay or not!

So - I find the whole notion that Hart must not only apologize, but also submit and become an ally - is pushing things a bit too far.

LGBT has their own issues with bigotry they should be more aware of and focused on.

very clear in another thread. So not surprised you posted this too.

I got drunk last night - slept on my gay buddies couch - just like I have hundreds of times over the past 30 years.

Usually there's a couple other gay guys around - they like me.

trust me you made it crystal clear what you think of gays.

Generally once I hear something racist or hateful from someone - I tend to shy away...and not really "interview" them further.

But - yeah - the black guys come out to the house all the time.

As far I know, most of them are straight - maybe a touch of bi from one guy.

but I do assume that someone who literally posted that I thought Kevin Hart should kneel and give a blow job to Don Lemon is a homophobe. And yes, you post exactly and precisely that.

You should take a clue from Donnie!

yes there is a difference between I won't tell a joke because you don't like it and I won't tell a joke because the joke is a problem. If he said that on Ellen then I would have no problem.

That's horrific.

Sid

but most surely posted it.

There are a few on DU who are quite obviously homophobic, though I never saw that particular post. That’s appalling, glad it was hidden.

There are also a bunch who just don’t get it.

Put the shovel down. You've dug deep enough.

+1

You have no idea what this sounds like, do you?

LGBT voters broke 77 to 14 in favor of Hillary. Only blacks and Jews were a better split for us. In comparison Hispanics were 66 to 27. I somehow doubt you would dare write such crap about Hispanics though.

I bet there are still some folks around here who believe that. They sure got that one wrong. Bigly. Embarrassingly so IMO.

More the bigger implications. The movement for equality and fight against bigotry with respect to the LGBQT community has been one of the most effective grassroots movements in American history. Where we are today is in large part because of people like you and how you see this. The movement, over time, has gotten through and changed minds. With that long and steady march has come a great societal change. A big part has been the changing of minds and the open and willing manner in which the community has forgiven those willing to change.

I love how you presented your thoughts. Hart is a big name. The context you present has been a cornerstone of one of the most steady grassroots movements we have seen. It’s also why progress will continue to be made.

Forget my opinion.

What if one of his children is gay?

He needs to do some work on himself for his kids' sake.

What does he think, now, about the idea of his child being gay or playing with a dollhouse?

We should dispense with the entire pointless ritual.

Please identify the "ritual media apology" which ever accomplished anything for anyone.

We used to put people in the stocks, throw rotten veggies at them until we got it out of our system, and then let them out of the stocks. Boom. All done.

IMHO, that worked better and accomplished something.

This apology ritual doesn't do a thing for anyone, in any circumstances, ever. Period.

If you believe there has ever been an instance of the ritual media apology accomplishing any particular purpose, then identify the incident in question and the person who obtained whatever "redemption" was available.

It's just dumb. It's as dumb as demanding that kids insincerely do it, and that's how this thing gets started. One kid does something awful to another kid, and that kid is then told to face the wronged kid and ordered to apologize. Grudgingly, or otherwise having no other option to avoid further punishment, the kid says, "I'm sorry" because the kid has been ordered to do so.

Honestly, what does this nonsense do for anyone?

Conversely, nobody forgives anyone for anything. Grudges are held, nurtured, worn as badges of honor. Finding fault in the ritual apology is the best way never to have to let go of whatever harm some media jackass did to whomever.

I did not see his apology but from your synopsis I can accept he was sincere.

People are not "failed versions of me" which is a dangerous but common affliction - also called sitting in judgment. We each come from a different set of circumstances that forms our beliefs. When those beliefs are challenged, and we really think about them, that is when we become fully formed human beings. That is what we could call a life journey - taking instilled beliefs and examining them for the purpose of accepting them or rejecting them. If we do not allow people to learn and grow then that is just pious ego tripping.

then I think he deserves to be taken seriously and forgiven. To answer the idea he apologized before, no he didn't. He said he wouldn't tell such jokes again because we have become more sensitive not because there was something inherently wrong with advocating beating gay children.

who played Kevin James black friend "Deacon Palmer" on the long running sitcom "King Of Queens" - a show which regularly included "I'm afraid my son is gay" jokes.

http://kingofqueens.wikia.com/wiki/Kirby_Palmer

which would put the blame on Kevin more than him. I don't know much about the show but it is my understanding that Kevin James is the writer. Funny you want to throw black people under the bus. I will say I am a fan of the woman who plays his wife (anyone who takes on Scientology has some good).

And - I brought that up in the last thread...

Same stuff - maybe worse - old white man taunting a little boy because he's afraid he might be gay.

As I pointed out - the kid that played that role, killed himself - partially due to taunting about gay rumors.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/everybody-loves-raymond-suicide-actor-791143

Both KOQ and ELR are still on the air in repeats everyday.

This guy's been given a national forum to apologize every two days, it seems. And in the meantime, I'm like... why? There must be a million comedians who would do the gig for free. They'd just be happy for the exposure.

Let him stay at home on Oscar night, and let his experience be a lesson to others in the importance of not being a douche on the Internet. That is a lesson that a lot of people need to learn.

Yet he's still being attacked.

Apologies are for children.

Adults make amends.

Fix it.

I personally don't want to know the personal lives of the artist and sports figures I enjoy watching. As a comedian I think Kebin Hart is just ok. I get why he's popular. He's got good energy. I wouldn't pay to go see him. Aside from that, we've learned as a person he has some hangups about being gay. And he expressed those in a manner that he probably didn't literally mean but was shocking nonetheless. As a parent, you want your children to be comfortable with themselves, have empathy for others and be able to find a job that they don't hate and that will allow them to live. If they are gay, they are gay.

And have Kevin Hart write the jokes!

Seriously. He's funny. He tells great, clean jokes, and he loves movies. He can tell you the name of Ingmar Bergman's last film. He is a genuinely entertaining man.

So why should we give a shit if Kevin Hart fucked up so bad that he can't host the Oscars? There are, literally, a million comedians who can do it without the Twitter baggage.

Lemon had a pretty impassioned 10 minute segment about Kevin Hart last week. Lemon's comments, coming from his place within the LGBT and Black communities, were pretty powerful.

I haven't seen the apology, and can't access Lemon's segment yet.

What did Don Lemon think?

Sid

Who have harmed the community, Hart is not exactly at the top of the list so at some point people have to move on.

The punishment is starting to exceed the crime.

or abused to the point they chose to be homeless what harm was caused.

Really?

Kevin Hart made a couple of stupid jokes a decade ago. That's it.

And at the time, those same type of jokes were repeated on TV shows, movies, and in a myriad number of conversations among regular folks. Hell, they are still made today.

He's not responsible for any of those kids and their situations. He's responsible for making a couple of back jokes.
For that, he's been suitably chastised.

words matter. He literally said on stage that he would beat his child if he thought he were gay. yeah he is some responsible.

the vast majority of people wouldn't know he said something ten years ago but for his selection and then the wider revelation.

He made a poor joke. He didn't give a serious speech where he advocated for beating gay children.

Words matter...to a point. We've reached that point.

He's voluntarily backed out, and he's apologized and he is still being attacked, and now in your words "partially" to blame for the ills that beset gay black youth.

Enough.

Honest acknowledgement of a past wrong (without qualifiers of, "if anyone was offended,&quot , an apology, and current evidence of diffeernt behavior (even better if the different behavior comes when the offender is unaware anyone is looking)

Whether he has met the last criteria or not is still an open question.

That is a misconception. If you’re apologizing to try and get a job back, it’s understandable why some are questioning his sincerity. This is repeat behavior on his part. I saw his spot on Ellen in the break room during lunch and the interaction made me uncomfortable for some reason.

He’s also known for denigrating black women. A misogynistic homophobe.

You are absolutely right.

I agree with Ellen that he shouldn’t step down but step up. Nick Cannon also had a history of homophobic remarks but he is now a strong lgbt ally. At this point, simple apologies are not enough for Hart, he should show his support through action, e.g. contribute to trevor project. In any case, when Hart said he was gonna decline the offer to host the oscars, it felt to me that he is not willing to let go of his views.

Lots of people have said dumb, homophobic stuff in past years. I sure did. Many of us are way more "woke" now.

TBH, worrying about Kevin Hart hosting the Oscars isn't even in my top 100 concerns. He says he's sorry, and I am inclined to take him at his word, at least for now.

Meanwhile we have an unapologetic fascist about the set the Constitution on fire. THAT is concern 1-100 right now.

They can, and will, find someone to replace him easily.

People need to start thinking about the fact that you can't just say ugly shit on the Internet--a public forum--and expect that it won't bite your ass sometime later. If you're trying to be a family-hour-approved "celebrity", then you're an idiot to piss people off. He is an idiot.

There’s a war on. Our country is in the grips of a fascist. These celebrity missives, calamities and exploits are of no interest to me. But then again I don’t watch The View, read TMZ or spend a lot of time on social media. Why? Because there’s a fucking war on.

offended" bullshit that's not even close to a basic apology.

Honestly though, I'll wait and see. It's taken a bunch of non apologies to get here and usually that's the case when a PR agent has to finesse an unwilling star into a statement for the benefit of his/her career.

But here's the thing, they probably don't have the same idea of what becoming an "ally" means.

There are different levels of being an ally--from silent to very outspoken. If Hart views "becoming an ally" as more of a spokesperson/activist role, he may feel that Lemon and others are trying to control his life and his pursuits. If Lemon views "becoming an ally" as simply being a "friend," then that's a far cry from the way Hart interpreted it.

It's unfortunate.

I wish they could have discussed and clarified the matter during their private phone call.