What time are the Oscars 2019 and why isn’t Kevin Hart hosting?
Oscar statue watches over the 91st Oscars Nominees Luncheon at the Beverly Hilton hotel on February 4, 2019 in Beverly Hills. (Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty)
The Oscars 2019 are here!
The 91st annual Academy Awards take place tonight with The Favourite, the riotous lesbian comedy-drama, tipped for huge success with 10 nominations.
Other films up for the Oscars 2019 tonight include Freddie Mercury biopic Bohemian Rhapsody and A Star is Born, the musical drama starring Lady Gaga.
Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper starring in A Star is Born, Cooper’s directorial debut. (Warner Media)
What time are the Oscars 2019?
The Oscars 2019 begins at 1am UK time on Monday, February 25, and will air on Sky Cinema Oscars. In the US, you can watch the Oscars at 8pm Eastern time on ABC.
Before the actual ceremony kicks off, E! will have full red carpet coverage from 10pm UK time (5pm Eastern).
Kevin Hart used “gay” as an insult on Twitter.
Why isn’t Kevin Hart hosting the Oscars 2019?
This year’s Oscars may be the queerest yet, but it has not been without controversy—particularly around the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ decision to hire Kevin Hart as host of the Oscars ceremony.
After it was announced Hart had been tapped to host the Oscars in December, several homophobic tweets from the comedian and actor re-emerged.
Among them, “I just saw a lesbian walk out of the mens bathroom! Wtf was she doing? R they pissing in urinals now?” he wrote in one August 2009 tweet.
One September 2009 post read: “How can u tell if ur pittbull is gay? My dog just farted and it sounded like he whistled!!!!!”
In another, he vented: “I just saw the biggest gay guy ever! This nigga looked like hulf hogan with heels on! I can’t lie I got scared!!!!!!”
Hart subsequently stepped down from hosting the event.
Ellen DeGeneres urged Kevin Hart to reconsider his withdrawal from hosting the Oscars, which Piers Morgan objected to (EllenTube)
“I have made the choice to step down from hosting this year’s Oscar’s….this is because I do not want to be a distraction on a night that should be celebrated by so many amazing talented artist,” he wrote on Twitter.
“I sincerely apologize to the LGBTQ community for my insensitive words from my past.”
Hart then appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show to discuss the drama. Lesbian talk show host Ellen DeGeneres attempted to convince him to reconsider his decision to step down as host, blaming “trolls” for him stepping down.
The comedian confirmed he would not host the ceremony in early January, saying: “Right now, from a time perspective, I don’t have the time. You’re talking about two weeks I’d have to prepare. I would like to call myself a perfectionist, so if I do something I want to give it my all.”
