Actress and Emmy-award winning writer Lena Waithe declared artists need to stop using the LGBTQ community as a punchline as she weighed in on Kevin Hart Oscar-hosting controversy and the comedian’s recent interview with Ellen DeGeneres while at the 2019 Golden Globes.
In an interview with Variety’s Marc Malkin, the creator of The Chi said, "We gotta make sure that the gay community is no longer the butt of the joke."
Lena Waithe on Kevin Hart Oscar controversy: "I don't think he even understood the ramifications of what he said. I do think it has to be a teachable moment for all of us" https://t.co/xW4bpydr9H
pic.twitter.com/bT7EOX0axd— Variety (@Variety) January 7, 2019
Hart sat down with Ellen last week to discuss being fired from his job as this year's Oscars host over old homophobic tweets. During their interview, DeGeneres revealed she had urged the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences — the organization behind the Oscars — to rehire Hart, and, as Deadline reports, Ellen's position was not well-received online.
In speaking about the controversy, Waithe said she understood where all parties were coming from, and told Variety, “I think we gotta make this a teachable moment."
The creator added, "I don't think [Hart] understood the ramifications of what he said," and said, “We should stand firm in what we did and try to challenge everybody else not to do that kind of thing anymore."
Currently, Hart has not been replaced, which led Waithe to say, "I like the idea of having a really gay-a** Black person hosting."
When Malkin suggested she would make a good Oscars host, the creator said, "Lena ain't ready for it," before making the case that comedian Wanda Sykes would be a perfect choice.
Waithe’s comments seemed to echo sentiments made by CNN Anchor Don Lemon, who, as Blavity reported, made a heartfelt appeal to the fired comedian on-air last week.
"Apologizing and moving on does not make the world a better place for people who are gay or people who are transgender, being an ally does," Lemon said. “Ellen does not speak for the whole community. We need to speak up for the young, Black people — especially young Black men, kids — in the LGBT community.”
As Complex reports, Hart took to Instagram to comment on the backlash his appearance on Ellen created.
The statement reads, “Basketball players aren't great until they LEARN how to play the game correctly. Teachers are great teachers when they LEARN how to get thru to kids correctly … A news anchor or a journalist does not start at the top … they have to LEARN and develop to be great at their job."
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