On Saturday Night Live‘s “Weekend Update,” comedian Michael Che gave his two cents on Kevin Hart’s decision to step down as the host for the 91st Academy Awards after homophobic tweets made by the comedian resurfaced online.

In his rant, Che defended Hart: “Didn’t the Academy nominate Mel Gibson for an award just last year?” he said. “Also, if Kevin Hart isn’t clean enough to host the Oscars, then no Black comic is. The only Black comic I know that’s cleaner than Kevin Hart is booked for the next three to 10 years.”

Some of the responses toward the controversy surrounding Kevin Hart by Black male comedians have garnered criticism online. The reaction from some of Hart’s contemporaries, such as D.L. Hughley, speaks to the more significant issue of how the Black community upholds the gross and disgusting treatment of members of the LGBTQ community.

Che claimed there are no Black comedians “clean” enough to host the Oscars. His statement is inaccurate and feeds into the impression zero Black comedians aren’t homophobic and resort to queerphobia and misogyny as the butt of their jokes. If the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences wants to make a statement, it should consider the talents of Wanda Sykes, a Black comedian and a proud member of the LGBTQ community, as a host. Other possibilities include SNL alumna Maya Rudolph and Emmy-winning SNL host Tiffany Haddish, whose trajectory from to the comic circuit to the top of the box office mirrors the career path of Kevin Hart.

Check out Che’s defense of Hart in the video below:

 

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