It’s confirmed! Oscars 2019 to take place without a host post Kevin Hart controversy
Hollywood is all set to host its biggest night, The Academy Awards. However, this year for the first time the award’s night is going to take place without a host. Never in three decades this happened that Oscars went on without a host. The organizers announced the news on Tuesday. A spokesperson from the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences told AFP, “We can confirm that there will be no host.”
The Academy was left hostless after actor and comedian Kevin Hart pulled out of the gig in December following a backlash on social media over homophobic tweets he made several years ago resurfaced.
Gala organizers who have been struggling to overcome a steady decline in viewership scrambled to find a replacement but finally settled for a ceremony with no emcee. Industry insiders said the producers of the 91st Academy Awards on February 24 plan to try out a new format with a selection of Hollywood A-listers introducing various segments. The last time the Oscars went without a host was in 1989 when actor Rob Lowe was raked over the coals for his musical duet with Snow White. In recent year, several other hosts have also come under criticism.
Recently, while responding to a fan, actor Dwayne Johnson wrote, “Ah mahalo dude, I was their first choice to host this year, and my goal was to make it the most fun and entertaining Oscars ever. We all tried hard, but couldn't make it work since I'm shooting 'Jumanji.”
