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In defense of Kevin Hart and Ellen DeGeneres...

Empire star Jussie Smollett, who recently came out as gay, was attacked in what is being investigated as a hate-crime. The two attackers allegedly yelled racist and homophobic slurs toward Smollett, as well as "MAGA country!" They apparently wrapped a noose around the actor's neck and poured an "unknown chemical substance" on him.

In response to this sad, disturbing, and horrifying incident, comedian Kevin Hart posted this tweet:

"Sending prayers your way @jussiesmollett .... This is unbelievably sad. Why are we going backwards....this is disgusting. We as a people have to do better. WTF is going on 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"

Many took issue with this because of old jokes and tweets of Hart's which weren't too kind to the LGBT community. Examples of these replies included :

- "Where's Kevin Hart and DL Hughley with some more of their little homophobic jokes? Since it's all just funny and accountability isn't important."

- "Given what we've seen so far, I fully expect the men who attacked Jussie Smollett to score a sit-down interview with Ellen at some point in the next few weeks. Maybe it will be a roundtable discussion with Kevin Hart."

- "This is your reminder that Kevin Hart was given a publicity tour to declare that being an ally to LGBTQ folks i snot his life's goal or dream and that he's done apologizing. This is your reminder that his jokes reflect actual attitudes that produce what happened to Jussie."

- "Keep yo tears n prayers... This is why yo joke was important and such an issue"

- "You're...... you're joking, right?"

- "You should have just sat there and ate your food, Kevin. Ain't nobody trying to watch you use this for an op."

Some people came after Ellen DeGeneres as well, after she posted a tweet which read, "Four years ago, @JussieSmollett came out on my show. I'm sending him and his family so much love today."

This post prompted the following responses:

- "Where's @KevinHart4real at tho sis? This LGBTQ ally you propping up for us. We're waiting."

- "Really inserting your show here? It's just sad. What about the guy who joked about beating his kid if they were gay that you forgave for all of us? Jokes like that make this type of violence possible. You're part of the problem Ellen"

- "And less than four weeks ago, you sat across from Kevin Hart and said 'Don't let those people win.' But 'those people' whom you described as 'haters' were queer black people hoping that you'd take the relationship between language and violence more seriously."

- "You turned your back on our community and called it second chances. I can't respect that and I'm extremely disappointed. I see you pick and choose when homophobia is appropriate. Ugh."

I don't get this. So a person who's made a mistake in the past can't show sympathy for another? A person isn't allowed to learn from said mistake and change for the better? Kevin Hart telling an anti-gay joke many years ago is somehow responsible for a gay man getting assaulted several years after the fact? Ellen DeGeneres is partially responsible as well for giving this before-mentioned individual a second chance? Where are we as a society if we don't give people second chances? How can anyone declare to the world with a straight face that they're perfect, have never slipped up, and can therefore criticize imperfect humans (redundant, I know...) for their faults without being a hypocrite?

I don't care how unpopular my opinion is, I embrace self-reflection, learning, and growth and wish more would do the same. If the person we're criticizing has learned from their mistakes, grown to become a better person, and we continue to see and showcase them as the person they used to be, perhaps we're the ones who need to do a bit of self-reflecting and growing...

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/kevin-hart-criticized-telling-jussie-smollett-stay-strong-homophobic-attack-124107697.html

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