Throwin a "Cowboys & Indians" birthday party on "Thanksgiving" celebrates genocide, white supremacy, & slavery. R those the things u @KevinHart4real & @enikohart represent & are teaching to your child? Would it be ok to throw a Master & slave birthday party? nope #nativetwitter pic.twitter.com/AnrZNUn3jn
— Mari posa (@solomamihood) November 25, 2018
Did Kevin Hart and Eniko really throw their 1-year-old a “Cowboys and Indians” themed birthday party... These celebrities really love their privilege to be socially ignorant.
— Clara Jaide (@clarajaide) November 23, 2018
Though the online commentary of the Hart family's choice of party primarily leaned negative, some fans and supporters deemed the criticism overblown. Celebrity blogger and dad Perez Hilton said the public should be outraged at bigger issues than a kid's birthday party.
People need to get outraged over outrageous things! Not a kid’s birthday party! https://t.co/vC7pf8lZS4 #KevinHart
— Perez (@ThePerezHilton) November 27, 2018
Hart responded to the criticism Wednesday, dismissing the disparaging feedback during his "Straight From the Hart" radio show.
“The reason why I’m even bringing this dumb (expletive) up is because it shows just how stupid our world is becoming with opinions,” he said. “People are at a point of an all-time high. To throw racial judgment into the development of a 1-year-old’s birthday party where the theme is cowboys and Indians? It’s based around the outfits that are given to the young kids!
“As a kid, when you played these games, it was based off of the premise from a hypothetical place that was put into perception for movies,” he said. “What I’m saying is, this isn’t something that just started. This isn’t a racial slur that people are doing or being malicious with. This is a game that’s been played for years.
“I’m about to be 40 years old. I remember at the age of 6, 7, playing these dumb (expletive) games. I remember playing cops and robbers!”
Hart also referenced the NFL game played on Thanksgiving between the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins.
“Keep in mind, the same day the Cowboys played the Redskins on TV. It’s a very known fact!” he said. “The Redskins and Cowboys played the same day!”
After his response, some applauded Hart and said he should receive a break. Last year, the Philadelphia native endured a blackmail and cheating scandal, which some say tarnished his “good guy” image.
When this man was out here allegedly cheating he was the trending topic. He gave his 1yr old a birthday party & he's still a trending topic. WTH do you all want him to do?
— Ms2Blessd2bStressd (@MsLuvmyfootball) November 29, 2018
Others still consider his dismissal of naysayers was tone-deaf in regard to Native American history.
@KevinHart4real It’s problematic to reinforce a narrative using Cowboys & Indians cause you dangerously flirt with stereotypes, good guy vs bad guy simplistic roles about a serious event in American history. Millions died! U can’t be tone-deaf to that.
— Nova Phoenix (@Lyfeblood) November 29, 2018
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