Twitterers accuse Kevin Hart of homophobia for appearing to trivalise Lil Nas X’s coming out as gay

Kevin Hart is once again being accused of homophobia after his awkward conversation with Lil Nas X on The Shop: Uninterrupted.

The moment began to unfold on Tuesday night after the Old Town Road singer appeared as a special guest on HBO Sports’ The Shop: Uninterrupted.

The Shop: Uninterrupted is an unscripted series that highlights the open conversations that happen in a barbershop. The episode featured celebrities Hart, Maverick Carter, Rob Gronkowski, Kevin Love, CJ McCollum, Charlamagne tha God and Paul Rivera.

During the episode, which will air in its entirety on Thursday night, Lil Nas X shared the backstory behind his decision to come out publicly over the summer as a gay man.

In the pre-recorded episode, McCollum asks Lil Nas why he chose to open up about his sexuality when he did.

Before the rapper could respond, Hart, who stepped down from hosting the Oscars in 2018 after homophobic tweets he’d made years earlier resurfaced, interjected.

“He said he’s gay,” says Hart, who was involved in a serious car accident that required back surgery earlier this week. “So what?” From there, Lil Nas X puts down the idea that he was forced to come out.

“It’s not that it’s like being forced,” Nas X begins. “It’s just like growing up… I’m growing up to hate this s--t. I’m not supposed to...”

Before Nas X could finish his response, Hart interrupts.”Hate what?” he asks Nas X. “Hate what?”

That’s when the Georgia rapper delves into some of the homophobia that characterised his upbringing and the way that affected him. He also explains how declaring his sexuality at the height of his career made sense to him.

“Homosexuality,” Nas X says in response to Hart. “Gay people. Come on now. If you’re really from the hood you should know it’s not something…. so it’s like for me, the cool dude with the song on top of everything, to say this any other time like I’m doing this for attention in my eyes. But if you’re doing this while you at the top you know it’s like for real and it shows that it doesn’t really matter.”

The Georgia native continued to explain how declaring his sexuality at the height of his career made sense to him.

.@lilnasx speaks the truth about his choice to come out while at the top. More of The Shop on @HBO now! pic.twitter.com/wETNaPUU5t

— UNINTERRUPTED (@uninterrupted) September 4, 2019

After the clip made rounds on Twitter, many Twitter users defended the record-breaking artist for coming out even as Hart’s actions drew some ire. For many of those who felt that Hart was dismissive of Lil Nas X’s coming out, they saw his (Hart’s) reaction as a confirmation that the comedian was homophobic. However, a few of those who responded think otherwise, believing like Hart that Lil Nas X’s coming out was a big a deal

As someone actually from Atlanta, I can vouch that he’s not overreacting within his decision and it’s timing because let a mf find out you gay, it’s harassment until you grow tf up and look around and see a lot of mfs was in the closet scared to come out because of the torment.

— DaddyAfterMidnight ?? (@kenyaaafuckonme) September 4, 2019

Not gonna lie I feel the same way as Kevin did … I’ve said “ coming out “ shouldn’t be a thing .. just live your life.

— KT1. (@KyilanThomas) September 4, 2019

LMAOOOOOOOO at Kevin Hart acting confused and fixing his dumb a-s mouth to ask Lil Nas X why he would have homophobic thoughts as a kid.
Uhhhhh, I dont know, maybe cuz SOME people make jokes about beating up their gay children?? FOH

— Amir Talai (@AmirTalai) September 4, 2019

And I also agree with @KevinHart4real . You shouldn’t need to announce it period. So it’s 50/50 in my head now. You can’t say I shouldn’t have to explain why I did it when there wasn’t a reason to do it in the first place

— TylerPiercy (@piercytd) September 4, 2019

It is not improbable that those accusing Kevin Hart of homophobia may have been influenced by his previous homophobic jokes that surfaced after he was announced as host for 2018 Oscars. Hart eventually apologised for those past remarks and stepped down from the Oscar host job as he didn’t want to be a distraction.

It is also conceivable that Hart was well aware that some people might think he was homophobic, which might have led him to act in the nonchalant manner he did to Lil Nas X’s coming out as gay. However, as some Twitter users pointed out, Lil Nas X coming out was a big deal given his background.

As Twitter user Bryan Castillo (@playcrackdasky) puts it: “To give that gay kid in the hood or in Arkansas hope. And to let everyone know we exist everywhere and it’s okay. He did it for us. Also, I hate it when heterosexuals ask WHY… while ignoring the homophobia that continues to exists but still wondering why we still coming out? ”

To give that gay kid in the hood or in Arkansas hope. And to let everyone know we exist everywhere and it’s okay. He did it for us. Also, I hate it when heterosexuals ask WHY… while ignoring the homophobia that continues to exists but still wondering why we still coming out??

— Bryan Castillo (@playcrackdasky) September 4, 2019