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TMZreports an outtake from a 2014 interview onConversations with Ed Gordonincludes the comedian and actor saying that he felt like people had become “too sensitive” these days. He went on to say that “homosexuality right now is in a place where it’s not a joke.”
Without going into specifics, Hart acknowledged that “the words and terms that were used at a certain point in time are considered slander, are considered violent terms due to the fact of all the hate crimes that have been had and all of the verbal attack[s].”
“It can throw you under the bus,” he remarked. “I understand it and I agree with it and I get why it is now a serious thing.”
Reps for Hart did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s requests for comment about the 2014 interview.
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On Friday, as the fallout continued, Hartshared a quote from the civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. on Twitter,writing, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
Hours earlier, Hart had apologized for his previous remarks.
“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,” Hart added. “Much love & appreciation to the Academy. I hope we can meet again.”
RELATED VIDEO: Kevin Hart Steps Downs as Host of the Academy Awards Moments After Refusing to Apologize
A clip from Hart’s 2010 comedy specialSeriously Funny, in which he made a homophobic joke, was also sent around. Hart said in the video, “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.”
“I’m thinking about what I did as a dad, did I do something wrong, and if I did, what was it?” he said at the time. “Not that I’m not gonna love my son or think about him any differently. The funny thing within that joke is that it’s me getting mad at my son because of my own insecurities — I panicked. It has nothing to do with him, it’s about me.”
That apology was one of the reasons Hartinitially refusedto give in to the backlash that started after his Oscars gig was announced — even after the Academy allegedly asked him to issue an apology.
The Academy has not commented on the reaction to Hart’s casting as host nor on his revelation that they asked for him to apologize, though a source familiar with the situation confirmed to PEOPLE that the Academy did ask Hart to apologize.
Prior to the Academy’s asking of an apology, Hart addressed the tweets in a video that has since been deleted.
“I swear, man, our world is becoming beyond crazy,” hesaidon Wednesday. “I’m not going to let the craziness frustrate me or anger me especially when I worked hard to get to the mental space that I am at now.”
“My team calls me, ‘Oh my God, Kevin, the world is upset about tweets you did years ago.’ Oh my God. Guys, I’m almost 40 years old. If you don’t believe that people grow, change, evolve as they get older, I don’t know what to tell you,” Hart went on. “If you want to hold people in a position where they always have to justify or explain their past — then do you. I’m the wrong guy, man. I’m in a great place, a great mature place where all I do is spread positivity. If you’re not doing that, you’re not on my page.”
source: people.com
