Ellen DeGeneres is facing widespread backlash on Twitter over her interview with Kevin Hart, in which she dismissed those who have criticized the comic for making homophobic comments as ‘haters’ and ‘trolls.’
Appearing on Friday’s episode of the Ellen DeGeneres show, the veteran talk show host revealed that she has been lobbying the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to again extend an offer to Hart to host the 91st Oscars ceremony next month, as she confessed she ‘really wants him to host’.
Two days after he was tapped for the high-profile gig, Hart backed out when some of his tweets deriding homosexuals from a decade ago resurfaced.
‘There are so many haters out there,’ DeGeneres said, referring to Hart’s detractors. ‘Don’t pay attention to them. That’s a small group of people being very, very loud. We’re a huge group of people who love you and want to see you host the Oscars.’
She later doubled down on her argument, saying that ‘trolls’ are going to win if Hart does not host the Academy Awards.
After the video of DeGeneres’ interview with Hart went up online, Twitter exploded with messages accusing Ellen of turning her back on the LGBTQ community for the sake of her celebrity pal.
‘I can think of at least 50 openly gay up and coming comedians who deserve your awesome platform more than douche canoe Kevin and his blatant push for the Oscars gig,’ actor Harry Cook tweeted. AGREED