Kevin Hart continues to play the victim in trailer for new docu-series about Oscars fiasco
Interested in revisiting the controversy surrounding Kevin Hart and last year’s Oscars ceremony? No? Too bad! The trailer for Hart’s new Netflix series Don’t F*ck This Up has just dropped and it’s aaaall about that whole mess.
Hart fist announced the docu-series on Instagram last month, describing the show as one “hell of a rollercoaster; peaks, hills, valleys, ups, downs. It’s as real, as raw, as transparent as you could be.”
In case you forgot: Around this time last year, Hart became something of a cause célèbre when he landed his dream gig as Oscar host. But within 24 hours of making the announcement, a string of homophobic tweets and jokes came back to haunt him.
Public outcry over the controversy intensified when Hart refused to apologize for his past homophobia, claiming he’d already done so, even though he hadn’t. And three days later, he announced he wouldn’t be hosting the show after all.
Oh, but it didn’t end there.
In January, Hart told Ellen people with vendettas against him were using his past homophobia to damage his career. The interview did little to quell the public outcry. Hart then attacked the LGBTQ community, calling queer people too sensitive and insisting they didn’t understand people can change, damn it!
A few months after that, he got into a tiff with Little Nas X when he expressed confusion over why the singer felt a need to come out and said he didn’t believe he ever faced homophobia.
“There’s a lot that you don’t know,” Hart says in the trailer for Don’t F*ck This Up, which premieres December 27 on Netflix. The question is: Do we really want to know? Here’s hoping after this we can all put this whole fiasco to bed. It’s starting to feel soooo last decade.
OPEN ENROLLMENT FOR ACA EXTENDED UNTIL 3 A.M. ET TOMORROW: LGBTQ people are less likely to have health insurance than non-LGBTQ people, so it is critical for the LGBTQ community to be fully aware of the benefits provided them through the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Access to affordable health insurance provides a pathway to appropriate care, helps address health disparities that exist in the LGBTQ community and provides critical preventative care. More from Reuters.
TUESDAY TWEETS — JOIN HRC IN URGING HHS TO SHUT DOWN ANTI-LGBTQ PROPOSAL: This proposal would permit discrimination against LGBTQ people, religious minorities, and women in programs related to foster care, adoption, HIV and STI prevention, refugee resettlement, elder care programs and more. More from HRC’s Charlotte Clymer (@cmclymer).
I want us to get 50,000 comments by Thursday. It’s incredibly easy. You click on this link, fill out your info, and use the box below that to tell HHS why you don’t want this regulation put in place. It takes all of 45 seconds. t.co/9WsjxdsqpD
ROBYN OCHS ON WHY BI, PAN, QUEER PEOPLE NEED THE EQUALITY ACT NOW: “I’ve seen firsthand the injustices that bisexual people and other LGBTQ+ people face because we lack explicit legal protections under the law,” said Ochs (@robynochs). “I know my visibility as an openly bisexualwoman matters when we talk about this legislation because our community faces unique challenges that can be all too easily dismissed or ignored.” More Washington Blade.
“Passage of the Equality Act is a critical step toward ensuring that bisexual, pansexual, sexually fluid, and queer people, alongside the full LGBTQ+ community, realize the promise of equal opportunity for all.” — @robynochs in @WashBlade on #EqualityAct.t.co/281ttGInNv
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READING RAINBOW – Bookmark now to read on your lunch break!
The Washington Post shares the history of the U.S. Navy naming a ship after Harvey Milk; Los Angeles Blade interviews Nick Nolan about his new book, ‘No Place Like Home;’ Pioneers Post speaks to the owner of a trans-owned beauty salon in Pakistan; Long Time No See speaks to HRC Press Secretary Elliott Kozuch (@ElliottKozuch) and Casa Ruby about the epidemic of violence against transgender and gender non-conforming people; Compete Network announces Amazin LêThi has become the first Asian athlete to represent Stonewall U.K. as a Sport Champion Ambassador
HALLMARK APOLOGIZES AND REINSTATES AD FEATURING SAME-SEX WEDDING — REVERSING COURSE AFTER HRC MOBILIZES GRASSROOTS ARMY: “In conversations with the company on Saturday — and by mobilizing our grassroots army — HRC was able to voice our community’s outrage and garner nearly 70,000 signatures to let Hallmark know that LGBTQ people won’t be erased,” said HRC President Alphonso David (@AlphonsoDavid). “Now, we look forward to working with Hallmark to ensure that the company is one that lives into its values and pursues meaningful LGBTQ representation, both inside the workplace and in the content it creates.” More from CNN.
HRC had suspended Hallmark’s score on the HRC Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index (CEI) after it caved to an anti-LGBTQ organizaiton and pulled the ad. After yesterday’s apology and ad reinstatement, the suspension was lifted. More from HRC, NewNowNext, Deadline and The Washington Post.
After thousands of voices expressed their outrage over @Hallmark’s decision, the company did the right thing by reversing this decision. Now, Hallmark is on the right path forward.
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The slain LGBTQ leader resigned from the Navy in 1950s after being spotted in a popular San Diego gay bar. Now, a ship named after him will be constructed in the same city.
Hallmark Channel CEO now says pulling same-sex ads was “wrong decision”
The Zola advert that prompted the controversy (Photo: Zola)
The CEO of Crown Media, parent company of Hallmark Channel, has apologized for the network pulling adverts which feature a same-sexcouple marrying.
The US network pulled the adverts by wedding planners Zola on Friday, bowing to pressure from One Millions Moms and religious groups who started petitions to complain about the ads. The decision prompted a huge backlash.
Hallmark CEO Mike Perry issued a statement to the Hollywood Reporter Sunday saying, “The Crown Media team has been agonizing over this decision as we’ve seen the hurt it has unintentionally caused.
“Said simply, they believe this was the wrong decision. Our mission is rooted in helping all people connect, celebrate traditions and be inspired to capture meaningful moments in their lives. Anything that detracts from this purpose is not who we are.
“We are truly sorry for the hurt and disappointment this has caused. … Across our brand, we will continue to look for ways to be more inclusive and celebrate our differences.”
Hallmark Channel is known for screening mainstream movies and holiday entertainment suitable for all ages. Its movies tend to avoid issues deemed controversial.
However, many LGBTQ people welcomed a recent comment from Bill Abbott, CEO of Crown Media Family Networks, Hallmark’s parent company. In a Hollywood Reporter podcast in November, he was asked it the channel had had any discussions about including same-sexcouples in its Christmas stories.
He responded, “We’re open to really any type of movie of any type of relationship.”
This was followed two weeks ago by the network beginning to air a campaign for the wedding planner company, Zola. In the adverts, a same-sexcouple wed and demonstrate all the ways the brand has helped.
However, shortly after the adverts began airing, right-wing pressure group One Million Moms complained. It encouraged its followers to sign a petition to register their disgust.
“Please reconsider airing commercials with same-sexcouples, and please do not add LGBT movies to the Hallmark Channel,” the group said. “Such content goes against Christian and conservative values that are important to your primary audience. You will lose viewers if you cave to the LBGT agenda.”
Lifesite, a Christian site, also made its disapproval clear.
The complaints worked: Hallmark swiftly decided to drop the adverts.
In a statement Saturday, the network said, “Crown Media Family Networks made the decision to pull the commercials. The debate surrounding these commercials on all sides was distracting from the purpose of our network, which is to provide entertainment value.”
Although pulling these specific adverts, it intended to air two other Zola adverts that did not feature a same-sexcouple.
Zola was quick to respond, issuing a statement Saturday announcing it was pulling all its advertising from Hallmark Channel.
“The only difference between the commercials that were flagged and the ones that were approved was that the commercials that did not meet Hallmark’s standards included a lesbiancouple kissing,” said Mike Chi, Zola’s chief marketing officer. “Hallmark approved a commercial where a heterosexual couple kissed.
“All kisses, couples and marriages are equal celebrations of love and we will no longer be advertising on Hallmark.”
Yesterday, it appeared even Netflix was wading in on the controversy. Its official US Twitter account posted two images of movies featuring lesbians, with the comment: “Titles Featuring Lesbians Joyfully Existing And Also It’s Christmas Can We Just Let People Love Who They Love.”
It prompted a response from Zola’s official Twitter account, lamenting the fact Netflix didn’t carry adverts.
“The only time we wish you had commercials! #loveislove”
The only time we wish you had commercials! #loveislove
Among those to criticize Hallmark Channel were GLAAD and other LGBTQ campaign groups, the advert’s director, Lauren Slick, Ellen DeGeneres, and actor William Shatner.
Shame on @hallmarkchannel! ?Put the commercials back! @1milmoms has 4K followers. I have 2.5 million and my friends have more. Who are you going to listen to? They are NOT a majority here. Both me and my followers watch your shows, do they? ????? #loveislove Do the right thing. t.co/Af4UWf59xi
Hallmark’s U-turn was welcomed by GLAAD. Its President, Sarah Kate Ellis, said in a statement, “The Hallmark Channel’s decision to correct its mistake sends an important message to LGBTQ people and represents a major loss for fringe organizations, like One Million Moms, whose sole purpose is to hurt families like mine.
“LGBTQ people are, and will continue to be a part of advertisements and family programming and that will never change. GLAAD exists to hold brands like The Hallmark Channel accountable when they make discriminatory decisions and to proactively ensure families of all kinds are represented in fair and accurate ways.”
HRC Statement on Hallmark’s Apology and Promise to Reinstate Ad Featuring Same-Sex Couple
HRC President Alphonso David released the following statement on Hallmark’s apology and promise to reinstate a previously pulled ad that featured a same-sexcouple:
“After thousands of voices expressed their outrage over Hallmark’s decision, the company did the right thing by reversing this decision. Now, Hallmark is on the right path forward. In conversations with the company on Saturday — and by mobilizing our grassroots army — the Human Rights Campaign was able to voice our community’s outrage and garner nearly 70,000 signatures to let Hallmark know that LGBTQ people won’t be erased. Now, the Human Rights Campaign looks forward to working with Hallmark to ensure that the company is one that lives into its values and pursues meaningful LGBTQ representation, both inside the workplace and in the content it creates.”
Victory! The Hallmark Channel will reinstate LGBTQ-inclusive advertisements after GLAAD and the LGBTQ community spoke out
Photo Credit: Zola
On Sunday, GLAAD responded to The Hallmark Channel’s decision to reinstate TV ads featuring a same-sexcouple after facing pressure from GLAAD and the LGBTQ community.
GLAAD President and CEO, Sarah Kate Ellis, said in a statement: “The Hallmark Channel’s decision to correct its mistake sends an important message to LGBTQ people and represents a major loss for fringe organizations, like One Million Moms, whose sole purpose is to hurt families like mine. LGBTQ people are, and will continue to be, a part of advertisements and family programming and that will never change. GLAAD exists to hold brands like The Hallmark Channel accountable when they make discriminatory decisions and to proactively ensure families of all kinds are represented in fair and accurate ways.” GLAAD was also on CNN immediately after Hallmark Channel reversed its decision.
On Thursday, the Hallmark Channel pulled TV ads featuring brides kissing from its airwaves after deeming the content “controversial.” A series of six ads for the wedding planning website Zola first appeared on the Hallmark Channel on December 2nd. The decision to pull the ads featuring two women kissing came after the network faced pressure from the anti-LGBTQ hate group One Million Moms.
GLAAD created a petition urging Hallmark Channel to reinstate the ads which garnered thousands of signatures, spoke out in the press including on NBC Nightly News, and also had conversations with The Hallmark Channel. GLAAD also worked with media to expose the One Million Moms and their continued agenda to dehumanize LGBTQ people and spread hatred and misinformation about our community.
In a press release on Sunday, the Hallmark Channel announced that it will reverse its decision and reinstate the TV ads featuring a same-sexcouple. Mike Perry, CEO of Hallmark, said in a statement: “Earlier this week, a decision was made at Crown Media Family Networks to remove commercials featuring a same-sexcouple. The Crown Media team has been agonizing over this decision as we’ve seen the hurt it has unintentionally caused. Said simply, they believe this was the wrong decision. Our mission is rooted in helping all people connect, celebrate traditions, and be inspired to capture meaningful moments in their lives. Anything that detracts for this purpose is not who we are. As the CEO of Hallmark, I am sorry for the hurt and disappointment this has caused.”
Perry continued: “Hallmark is, and always has been, committed to diversity and inclusion – both in our workplace as well as the products and experiences we create. It is never Hallmark’s intention to be divisive or generate controversy. We are an inclusive company and have a track record to prove it. We have LGBTQ greeting cards and feature LGBTQ couples in commercials…Hallmark will be working with GLAAD to better represent the LGBTQ community across our portfolio of brands. The Hallmark Channel will be reaching out to Zola to reestablish our partnership and reinstate the commercials.”
After the advertisements were initially pulled from air, GLAAD released the following statement from President & CEO, Sarah Kate Ellis: “The Hallmark Channel’s decision to remove LGBTQ families in such a blatant way is discriminatory and especially hypocritical coming from a network that claims to present family programming and also recently stated they are ‘open’ to LGBTQ holiday movies. As so many other TV and cable networks showcase, LGBTQ families are part of family programming. Advertisers on The Hallmark Channel should see this news and question whether they want to be associated with a network that chooses to bow to fringe anti-LGBTQ activist groups, which solely exist to harm LGBTQ families.”
LGBTQ-inclusive advertising has become increasingly popular from brands across industries, and plays an outsized role in enabling LGBTQ families to see themselves reflected positively in the media. Recently, Pantene, in partnership with GLAAD and the Trans Chorus of Los Angeles, partnered to create a video series entitled “Going Home for the Holidays“, which seeks to bring awareness to the unique challenges that many LGBTQ people face during the holiday season.
Hallmark’s decision comes during a year where LGBTQ representation on television has hit its pinnacle: GLAAD’s 2019 Where We Are on TV report found that 10.2% of series regular characters on television were LGBTQ, a record high.
HRC Suspending Hallmark’s Score on the Corporate Equality Index
Today, HRC announced that it was taking the rare step of suspending Hallmark Cards Inc.’s Corporate Equality Index (CEI) score in response to its subsidiary The Hallmark Channel caving to pressure from anti-LGBTQ groups and pulling an ad featuring a same-sex wedding ceremony with two brides. At press time, nearly 60,000 people have joined HRC’s letter-writing campaign condemning Hallmark’s anti-LGBTQ decision.
“By backing down on visibility and representation, Hallmark has failed the LGBTQ community and all of their customers. Given Hallmark’s actions and failure to correct it, the Human Rights Campaign is suspending their Corporate Equality Index score,” said HRC President Alphonso David. “Hallmark still has time to do the right thing here–apologize and reinstate the ad. The only thing controversial about this ad is Hallmark’s actions in response to a handful of extremists, and we cannot accept this shameful erasure of LGBTQ love and community.”
The Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index is the national benchmarking tool on corporate policies and practices pertinent to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer employees. In 2019, 571 businesses earned the CEI’s top score of 100, including Hallmark, meeting new and higher benchmarks — including a record number offering transgender-inclusive health care policies — in the most comprehensive assessment of workplace LGBTQ inclusion in the 17-year history of the report.
HRC has notified Hallmark that their score is suspended and encourages them to work swiftly towards a positive resolution of this situation.
HRC Congratulates Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner on His Reelection
HRC congratulates Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner on his reelection.
“LGBTQ Houstonians, and our allies, turned out to return a strong ally to City Hall,” said HRC President Alphonso David. “Throughout this campaign, Mayor Turner has shown his commitment to a more fair and equal Houston. And that message resonated. Across the city, individuals and families living in Houston rejected Buzbee’s hateful and discriminatory message and embraced a future where every person, regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation, has a chance to succeed. Moving forward, the Human Rights Campaign will work with Mayor Turner to identify ways to improve the lives of LGBTQ people living in Houston.”
Since his time in the state legislature, Mayor Turner has had a strong record on LGBTQ issues. He authored bills to protect homeless LGBTQ youth, earning him an A+ from Equality Texas. As Mayor, he created an LGBTQ Advisory Board in the wake of the Pulse shooting to identify further ways he and his office could improve on their already strong LGBTQ record.
Tony Buzbee, a major Trump donor, has utilized his personal wealth to self-fund his campaign, allowing him to steer clear of addressing the needs of Houstonians. Throughout the campaign, Buzbee has advocated against a legitimate equal rights ordinance and continues to placate his far-right allies, like Steven Hotze.
Alongside its three permanent full-time staff in Texas and four local volunteer steering committees, HRC deployed 13 additional staff and organizers for a major get-out-the-vote effort across the state. In addition to robust door-to-door, mail and phone canvassing in partnership with local groups including Equality Texas, HRC hosted four Equality Action Academy trainings to give HRC members and supporters the tools they need to take action locally in legislative advocacy and in support of pro-equality candidate campaigns.
Pol. adv. Paid for by Human Rights Campaign PAC (www.hrc.org) and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s campaign committee.
