Controversial comedian Kevin Hart has come under fire for sending words of support to actor Jussie Smollett who was the victim of a racist and homophobic hate crime earlier this week.
“Sending prayers your way @jussiesmollett ….This is unbelievably sad,” Hart captioned a photo of Smollett on Instagram.
“Why are we going backwards….this is disgusting. We as 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.”
Hart’s post was immediately met with backlash as fellow celebs and fans slammed him for condemning the attack in the wake of his homophobic tweets.
https://twitter.com/ira/status/1090340997387571200
But keep joking about beating up your kid for being gay, Kevin Hart!
— sam greisman (@SAMGREIS) January 29, 2019
Do you see why the “jokes” weren’t funny now??
— Bethany (@niale_west) January 30, 2019
https://twitter.com/JerryFordJr/status/1090441231430311937
https://twitter.com/iDimitriusJones/status/1090470546725367808
Well this is rich
— valerie complex is not in Cannes (@ValerieComplex) January 30, 2019
He later posted another message, presumably in response to the backlash that he had received from his previous post.
“Operation spread love is in full effect damn it,” he wrote.
“I don’t condone or believe in hate, infact I despise it. Hate makes me sick to my stomach…Its pointless. Cowards & weak individuals embrace it. I choose love…I love all of you. I challenge the rest of the world 2 do the same.”
Operation spread love is in full effect damn it. I don’t condone or believe in hate, infact I despise it. Hate makes me sick to my stomach…Its pointless. Cowards & weak individuals embrace it. I choose love…I love all of you. I challenge the rest of the world 2 do the same.
— Kevin Hart (@KevinHart4real) January 30, 2019
Chicago police are still investigating the horrific attack where the Empire star was allegedly beaten and placed in a noose.
ThatGrapeJuice.Net has released a photo of a letter which was sent to Fox Studiosin Chicago eight days ago with cut out letters spelling, “You will die black f**” alongside a drawing that appears to be of two men and a gun.
The envelope that the letter was encased in was addressed to ‘Jussie Smollett, Empire’and also read ‘MAGA.’
Images of the letter can be found HERE.
Fox has stepped up security measures for cast and members of production following the assault.
