The Oscars Won't Have a Host for First Time in 30 Years: Report

After scrambling to try and find a replacement for Kevin Hart, the Feb. 24, 2019 Academy Awards show will go on without a host for the first time since 1989.

Instead, the Oscars will take on a new format and have various “A-list” stars introduce different segments over the course of the evening, HuffPost reported. The void left by Hart will be filled by skits and musical performances from nominated movies like A Star Is Born.

Hart stepped down from the role of presenter on Dec. 6 after his selection was criticized by some who felt some of his past tweets and standup jokes were homophobic.

At first, he released a rather unapologetic statement: “I’m not going to continue to go back and tap into the days of old when I moved on, and I’m in a completely different space in my life,” Hart said in a video on Instagram. “I’m going to be me; I’m going to stand my ground.”

He then apologized later that same day.

I have made the choice to step down from hosting this year's Oscar's….this is because I do not want to be a distraction on a night that should be celebrated by so many amazing talented artists. I sincerely apologize to the LGBTQ community for my insensitive words from my past.

— Kevin Hart (@KevinHart4real) December 7, 2018

“I have made the choice to step down from hosting this year’s Oscar’s….this is because I do not want to be a distraction on a night that should be celebrated by so many amazing talented artists,” he wrote on Twitter. “I sincerely apologize to the LGBTQ community for my insensitive words from my past.”

The last time the Oscars went on host-less was 30 years ago at the 61st annual show that featured a widely mocked musical number that starred Rob Lowe and Snow White.