Washington D.C. [USA], Jan 05 (ANI): Seems like Ellen DeGeneres is campaigning hard for Kevin Hart to host this year's Oscars.

During her talk-show, Ellen sat down with the comedian to discuss the headlines surrounding the 2019 Oscars hosting gig, confirmed E!Online. Kevin stepped down from hosting last month after tweets from 2009-2011 resurfaced with derogatory language referring to gay people and disparaging comments about sexuality.

"I called The Academy today because I really want you to host the Oscars. I was so excited when I heard that they asked you. I thought it was an amazing thing. I knew how important it was and how it was a dream," revealed Ellen. "There are so many haters out there. Whatever is going on in the internet, don't pay attention to them. That's a small group of people being very, very loud. We are a huge group of people who love you and want to see you host the Oscars."

However, the clip sparked mixed reactions with some criticising the talk-show host for defending Kevin and giving him such a public platform.

Ellen also spoke out in a tweet as she wrote, "However you feel about this, the only positive way through it is to talk about it."

Earlier, Kevin was criticised for writing wildly offensive comments that disparaged gay people. "So if my son comes home & try's 2 play with my daughters doll house I'm going 2 breaks it over his head & say n my voice 'stop that's gay'," he wrote in one since-deleted post.

In another tweet from 2010, Hart said someone's profile pic looked like a "gay billboard for AIDS." In another written in 2009, he called someone a "fat faced fag." (ANI)

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