Kevin Hart Under Fire for Sending Prayers to Jussie Smollett Following His Homophobia Scandal

Someone is in hot water again! After the news broke that Empire star Jussie Smollett was attacked in a possible hate crime, Kevin Hart sent him some well wishes via social media. However, fans quickly slammed the comedian, 39, as hypocritical after his old homophobic comments resurfaced online in December 2018.

“Sending prayers your way @jussiesmollett … This is unbelievably sad,” the Night School actor wrote on Instagram on January 29. “Why are we going backwards … This is disgusting. We as people have to do better. WTF is going on [in] the world???? Why are we falling in love with hate???? God damn it people … Choose love … I repeat … Choose love. I will forever choose love and I will continue to teach my kids how to do the same. Stand strong, brother.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/BqsihPFF49V/

To recap, the 36-year-old actor was hospitalized in Chicago after two men yelled “racial and homophobic slurs towards him” before battering him with their hands, pouring “an unknown chemical substance on him” and wrapping a rope around his neck, according to the Chicago Police Department.

In December 2018, the Philadelphia native revealed he was no longer hosting the 2019 Oscars ceremony after his old tweets about the LGBTQ community went viral. In one of the tweets — some of which have since been deleted — he wrote, “Yo if my son comes home & try’s[sic] 2 play with my daughter’s doll house I’m going 2 break it over his head & say n my voice ‘stop that’s gay.’”

Fans were speechless by the author’s post, and took to Twitter to express their feelings. One wrote, “Do you see why the ‘jokes’ weren’t funny now?” while another echoed, “Hopefully you now see that the ‘jokes’ you peddled, that incited violence against #LGBT people were never – ever – funny.” Another user was rather blunt, writing, “I hope you get it now.”

The dad-of-three apologized in December, writing, “I have made the choice to step down from hosting this year’s Oscars … this is because I do not want to be a distraction on a night that should be celebrated by so many amazing, talented artists. I sincerely apologize to the LGBTQ community for my insensitive words from my past.”

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 artists. I sincerely apologize to the LGBTQ community for my insensitive words from my past.

— Kevin Hart (@KevinHart4real) December 7, 2018

While Kevin was probably just trying to be nice, maybe it’s best to not say anything sometimes.