Kevin Hart will 'not return as Oscars host', despite Ellen plea

The actor does not want to distract from award winners on the night

Kevin Hart has decided not to return as host of the Oscars, despite the Academy Awards organisers hoping otherwise.

Deadline reports that Hart has decided against hosting as his presence would be a distraction from the actual ceremony itself and would only continue the controversial narrative further.

The publication notes that there's still a slim chance the comedian and actor could have a change of heart, but this looks unlikely as there are also concerns over having limited time to prepare for the event.

The Oscars will instead continue to peruse holding the glamorous ceremony without a host, with reports indicating they may implement a Saturday Night Live-like sketch show scenario.

Hart initially stepped down from hosting the event after his homophobic tweets from almost a decade ago resurfaced online. While the 39-year-old did not apologise for the remarks at first (he instead asked people to “stop searching for reasons to be angry”), he eventually said sorry to the LGBT+ community.

Following an appearance on The Ellen Show, in which Hart apologised once again, Ellen Degeneres called on the Academy to reinstate him as host. “I believe in forgiveness,” she wrote on Twitter. “I believe in second chances. And I believe in Kevin Hart.”

The Academy and ABC – the network who broadcast the ceremony – were reportedly open to Hart’s return.

Speaking on The Ellen Show, Hart blamed Internet trolls for wanting to “destroy” his career. “This was to end all partnerships, all brand relationships, all investment opportunities, studio relationships, my production company and the people that work underneath me,” he said. ”This was to damage the lives that have been invested in me.”

After apologising again for the remarks, he added: “I don’t have a homophobic bone in my body.”

The initial now-deleted tweets that sparked the controversy included a post that reads: “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’.”