Kevin Hart’s third turn as host of “SNL” started out with some controversy, when his opening monologue about his family turned, as many Twitter users thought, sexist.
The monologue was primarily about Hart’s kids and how he wasn’t, at first, sold on the idea of having another child (he already has a 10 and a 12-year-old). But it was his take on the roles of men and women in child-rearing that kicked up a social media.
You can watch the monologue in the video above.
“I can admit to everyone that I wasn’t excited about having a baby,” Hart explained. “I didn’t want to deal with that 2-year-old age.”
But he then transitioned to talking about the roles of men and women in raising kids, which raised some viewers’ dander.
“You have to take your hat off when it comes to taking care of kids to the women,” Hart said. “Women, I give you so much credit. You guys do so much. You know why? Because when it comes to putting structure in the child’s life, when it comes to bathing, feeding, taking the child to school, from the school, you do it. You’re responsible for that. I applaud you for that.
“But one thing that you’re not, is fun,” Hart continued. “I know when you first hear it, you’re getting an attitude already. ‘What? I’m fun. That’s a lie. You’re a liar. I’m fun.’ No, you’re not. You’ve never heard a kid say, ‘I can’t wait to get home and play with my mom.’ You’ve never heard that. ‘I can’t wait for mommy and me time.’ That doesn’t exist.”
Hart said that the responsibility of providing fun falls on the father’s shoulders, a task that is tough to keep up with young kids.
“They don’t know how to shut fun off,” he said, going on to describe a scenario of fathers pulling up into his driveway, only to see their kids waiting to play with them — and then slowly backing out of the driveway again without going inside.
Viewers’ quickly logged their reactions to the monologue on Twitter.
2017 has seen incredible progress for women. Kevin Hart’s opening monologue belongs in 2016. Disappointed in @nbcsnl for a #sexist opening monologue #snl
— Rabbi Evelyn Baz (@RabbiBaz) December 17, 2017
Kevin Hart doing a bit about how he doesn't like kids and how women are no fun on SNL right now feels…wrong? It's uncomfortable and I doubt I'm the only one feeling this lol
— Nick W (@SirNickW) December 17, 2017
https://twitter.com/riversalvage/status/942257084543971328
Hart recently talked openly about cheating on his pregnant wife, Eniko Parrish, earlier this year. Given that context and the continuing flood of accusations about sexual assault and harassment perpetrated by powerful men in Hollywood, politics, and elsewhere, lots of viewers found the whole monologue hypocritical.
https://twitter.com/heidivanderlee/status/942254543521353728
#SNL Women of SNL cast…how the hell did you allow that awful, sexist Kevin Hart monologue to happen??? REALLY???
— DebraDG ☮️ (@DebraDG) December 17, 2017
Kevin Hart's @SNL monologue trashed women & moms. He shouldn't return. EVER. You cheated on your pregnant wife & have the audacity to make fun of moms? You're fired. #SNL
— Stefanie Flores Therapy (@focusonyou_) December 17, 2017