Kevin Hart has decided to step down from hosting the Oscars after past homophobic tweets surfaced.

“I have made the choice to step down from hosting this year’s Oscar’s,” the comedian announced on Thursday (Dec. 6). “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. I’m sorry that I hurt people… I am evolving and want to continue to do so. My goal is to bring people together not tear us apart. Much love & appreciation to the Academy. I hope we can meet again.”

While Hart received backlash from social media and LGBT advocacy groups for not apologizing sooner, Snoop Dogg has come to his defense.

Smoking a blunt in an Instagram video, the rapper shared his support for Hart. “Hey Kev, don’t trip. It ain’t our kind of shit, no way. Oscars? Yeah right,” he said. “Come do the BET Awards, cuh. Or Soul Train. They don’t care. You a comedian cracking jokes. Really?”

Snoop even joked about hosting the Oscars himself. “Y’all want me to host it now? Nah, I don’t think so. I got shit to do and I got way more customers before I get to you.”

He also offered some advice to his friend. “Kevin Hart, smoke a blunt. Tell the Academy to suck a dick or die trying. Fuck ’em. We still love you, ni**a.”

He ended with a message to another academy, The Recording Academy. “Fuck the Grammys too,” said Snoop, who has received 17 Grammy nominations without a win.

Hart previously announced that he would host the 91st Academy Awards for the first time next year.

“For years I have been asked if I would ever host the Oscars and my answer was always the same,” he said. “I said that it would be the opportunity of a lifetime for me as a comedian and that it will happen when it’s suppose to.”

After his disparaging tweets surfaced, Hart said the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences asked him to apologize or risk losing the hosting gig. He chose not to issue an apology and step down instead. “The reason why I passed is because I’ve addressed this several times,” he said. “I’m not going to continue to go back and tap into the days of old when I’ve moved on and I’m in a completely different space in my life.”