The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences officially announced that there will be no host for the Oscars ceremony for the first time in nearly three decades.

The head of ABC Entertainment, which airs the Academy Awards ceremony , said it would instead highlight celebrities presenting the trophies.

Kevin Hart was intended to host the ceremony. He stepped down after several homophobic tweets resurfaced on social media. In a later interview, he revealed he would not be invited back.

He said he did not want to be a distraction and that he was "sorry he had hurt people".

A number of Academy Awards ceremonies have had no host. In the last such case - a highly controversial event in 1989 - producer Allan Carr made the decision in order to make room for more celebrity presenters.

The 91st Academy Awards will be broadcast live on Sunday, February 24 at 8 pm ET/PT on ABC.

Source: Press Release