Initially, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences asked comedian Kevin Hart to host the Oscars this year. He promptly accepted their invitation. Then, controversy ensued over some previous comments made by Mr. Hart. He refused to apologize and then stepped down as host for the Oscars, leading to a no host ceremony.

In the past, Mr. Hart tweeted a few homophobic jokes on Twitter. The comedian-actor wrote, “Yo if my son comes home & try’s 2 play with my daughters doll house I’m going 2 break it over his head & say n my voice ‘stop that’s gay’.”

Now those remarks have come back to haunt him. The Academy asked Mr. Hart to either apologize or step down as host.  He stated on Twitter in December 2018 that he had already said his apologies and he would pass this year on hosting the awards. He asserted that he didn’t want to be a distraction on a night that should be focusing on the works of so many outstanding artists in the industry.

These comments made by Mr. Hart on Twitter date back to 2009.  Now with social media, people are worried about their past comments and their actions that might be too controversial now and are scared about having internet trolls dig up their dirt from the past.

“I think it’s pretty scary that comments from that long ago can come back and mess up a lot of opportunities for someone.” said junior Xitlalli Palafox “It makes me feel like you can’t really say anything online because it never goes away.”

So many people nowadays choose to voice their opinions on social media and it often turns out to be a bad idea. A lot of celebrities have made comments in the past that are now unacceptable and a lot of those celebrities have come under fire for those comments. Because of social media, many people are now walking on eggshells when it comes to making statements or voicing an opinion. People change throughout their life and most people aren’t the same person they were 10 years ago, but when it comes to internet trolls that doesn’t really matter. Everyone has said something that they aren’t proud of, but it’s one thing to say it privately with friends and it’s another thing to type it out for millions of people to see. When it comes to social media maybe refrain from making comments that can be seen as controversial. Mr. Hart learned this lesson the hard way.

In the 91 years since the Oscars began, there has only been one time with no host and that was 30 years ago.  Surprisingly even with no host this year the Oscars went on without any hitches. The show seemed more streamlined, flowed smoothly, and the ratings went up.