Yahoo Movies Kevin Hart clashes with Lil Nas X over coming out bringing new claims of homophobia
Kevin Hart has found himself at the centre of another homophobia row, after an appearance on a US TV show with Lil Nas X.
The rapper, who came out after his single Old Town Road became a worldwide hit, was appearing on the HBO talk show The Shop: Uninterrupted alongside Hart.
When asked about his decision to come out when he did, Hart butted in on the question, saying: “He said he was gay, so what?”
Though Hart may have wanted to play down the significance of being gay, Lil Nas, aka Montero Lamar Hill, hit back, saying that despite what Hart might believe, coming out is still difficult and still an issue in today's society.
Read more: Kevin Hart expected to make full recovery after car wreck
“It's not about who cares, that actually my question,” show moderator Paul Rivera says, appearing irritated with Hart's flippant comment.
“It's not like being forced,” says Hill. “I've grown up to hate that s***.”
Asked what he means by ‘that s***’, he replies: “Homosexuality, gay people.”
When Hart asks why, Hill adds: “If you're really from the hood, you know.”
He adds that by deciding to come out while he's 'at the top, it’s showing, like, it doesn’t really matter'.
Twitter has taken pretty serious issue with Hart's comment.
"He said he was gay. So what!" Kevin Hart knows exactly what the "so what" is here and why a young black boy would closet his sexuality until he believed it was safe. Why not simply listen, give @LilNasX the space and deference to tell his own story... https://t.co/8nY9cHPftP
— G O L D I E. (@goldietaylor) September 4, 2019
lil nas x showed admirable resolve there — that he shouldn’t have had to, it should be said — but what i really liked was how he took the steam out of kevin hart with that “if you were really from the hood, you would know.”
— Joel D. Anderson (@byjoelanderson) September 4, 2019
Kevin Hart's rage and bitterness about anything to do with gay people is so jarring.
Lil Nas X seems so stable and healthy and Kevin seems so ... not okay. https://t.co/ag7aDo1zg0— Jenée (@jdesmondharris) September 4, 2019
Lmao kevin hart tryna act like he not homophobic pic.twitter.com/nRYY3feh2z
— 🚀Corey🚀 (@Coreycrazy22) September 4, 2019
The matter has been no doubt exacerbated by Hart's history in this area.
The comedian was fired from presenting the Oscars after footage of homophobic jokes from a stand-up special re-emerged, as well as homophobic tweets from his Twitter account dating back to 2010.
In a skit from the show Seriously Funny, he said: “One of my biggest fears is my son growing up and being gay. That’s a fear. Keep in mind, I’m not homophobic. . . . Be happy. Do what you want to do. But me, as a heterosexual male, if I can prevent my son from being gay, I will.”
He then riffs about screaming at his then three-year-old son for displaying 'gay' behaviour.
Hart later defended himself in an interview with Rolling Stone in 2015, saying that the jokes were a symptom of his own insecurities.
The Jumanji star is currently recovering in hospital following a car crash in Los Angeles on Sunday night.
