Kevin Hart has been making headlines for past anti-gay statements, for which he apologized, but he says his new movie's box office feels good
Kevin Hart has faced a lot of social media backlash recently over old anti-gay comments, for which he apologized, but at the box office he’s finding nothing but success.
The 39-year-old actor and comedian found himself at the center of an imbroglio when he was announced as the host for this year’s Oscars, after which many pointed to years-old homophobic tweets and jokes in his standup routines.
Hart subsequently gave up the hosting gig, issued an apology and gave a lengthy and contrite interview to Ellen DeGeneres.
But the scrutiny has not let up.
Last week, when he spoke out in support of Empire star Jussie Smollett after Smollett was the victim of an apparent hate crime, detractors again noted Hart’s own past statements, calling him hypocritical. (Smollett, 35, is gay.)
Hart responded on Twitter, in part, “I stand with a man in his time of hurt and need by giving him heartfelt support and u take the time to harp on my 10yr past that I have apologized about and moved on from by being a better person. Do you want change? If so I am an example of what u want people to do… CHANGE!”
Speaking with PEOPLE in Atlanta ahead of the Super Bowl, however, Hart says he’s focused on positivity.
In the shadow of the controversy over Hart’s past behavior, his latest movie, The Upside, opened to more than $20 million. Showing long legs with audiences, it could strike within $90-100 million, a bigger hit than his recent Night School costarring Tiffany Haddish.
Asked how that success feels now, to have crowds turn out to see him still, he told PEOPLE at Michael Rubin’s Fanatics Super Bowl Party: “It’s good to be good I guess.”
“Negativity only wins if you allow it to get to you, so positivity forever will win,” he continued.
“I love love and I love the fact that people responded to the movie,” he said. “If you haven’t seen it, go see it. It’s doing very well.”