Nick Cannon reignited controversy by making reference to old homophobic tweets from Amy Schumer and Chelsea Handler in defense of his fellow comedian Kevin Hart.

Cannon has been vocal about his support of Hart after the comedian stepped down as host of the 2019 Oscars amid backlash for anti-gay tweets he posted in 2009 and 2011.

The TV personality recently wrote to Hart on social media saying: ‘We with you regardless!!! You know we feel about people trying to control us anyway!!’

And now the 38-year-old has dug up old homophobic tweets from female comedians such as Amy Schumer and Chelsea Handler as he posted: ‘Interesting. I wonder if there was any backlash here….’

A tweet by Schumer read: ‘Enjoy skyfall f*gs I’m about to get knee deep in Helen Hunt #thesessions’

Handler wrote in 2012: ‘This is what a f*g bird looks like when he flexes.’

And Sarah Silverman posted: ‘I don’t mean this in a hateful way but the new bachelorette’s a f****t.’

There has been no response yet from the female comedians. Insiders say that celebrities in Hollywood don’t want the job of presenting the Oscars as it places ‘a target on your back’, just as it did with Hart.

Hart’s offensive tweets were posted nearly a decade ago and were well known, but it’s current backlash has booted him out of the host gig this year.

In 2018, an unsavory social media post can cost someone their job.

Hart stepped down as host of the 2019 Oscars on Thursday.’I have made the choice to step down from hosting this year’s Oscars,’ he tweeted.

‘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.’

In 2011, Kevin wrote in a since-deleted tweet: ‘Yo if my son comes home & try’s 2 play with my daughters doll house I’m going 2 break it over his head & say n my voice ”stop that’s gay.”

And during his 2010 stand-up comedy special, Seriously Funny, he was quoted saying that one of his ‘biggest fears’ was that his sons would grow up to be gay.

‘Keep in mind, I’m not homophobic,’ Hart said during the routine. ‘I have nothing against gay people, do what you want to do, but me, being a heterosexual male, if I can prevent my son from being gay, I will.’

On Saturday, a clip from Conversations With Ed Gordon was obtained by TMZ where the host grilled Hart over backlash he’d recently gotten for a joke regarding black women.

‘You drew a line at homosexuality, why didn’t you draw a line at women of color,’ asked Ed Gordon from the 2014 interview.

‘Here’s why I drew the line at homosexuality,’ began Hart. ‘Homosexuality right now is in a place where…it’s not a joke to them. And I don’t even like to use the word “them”. The words and terms used at a certain time are considered slander. Are considered violent terms.

‘Due to the fact of all the hate crimes that have been had, all the verbal attack that people have had… It’s blown up to a bigger thing. So I personally don’t think it’s funny. I don’t joke about it. I don’t want that problem. I don’t need any enemies.’

‘It could stop a career,’ interrupted Gordon.

‘What! It could stop a career?’ Hart said in shock. ‘It could throw you under the bus! You could be in that check cash line. I don’t want that problem’

‘I get why it is a serious thing. I don’t mess with it.’

The Academy Awards is yet to comment on Hart’s departure.

Hart did say, however, that the academy told him to apologize publicly or he’d lose the gig. He chose to bow out on his own, without an apology.

All eyes are now turned to the Academy to choose another host.

Many keep coming back to Whoopi Goldberg, who has hosted the awards four times. Others have suggested Ellen DeGeneres, who hosted one of the Oscars’ highest-rated shows, or Tom Hanks, who has a longstanding academy relationship.

Keegan Michael-Key and Jordan Peele, Will Smith or Lin-Manuel Miranda are other names in the mix.

Busy Phillips threw her own name out there tweeting: ‘I AM AVAILABLE.’

She also suggested Issa Rae, Sarah Silverman, Ali Wong, Samantha Bee, Robin Thede and Aisha Tyler, or ‘any other woman working in Hollywood right now who wants to.’

But the film academy will need to move quickly as the 91st Oscars ceremony is less than three months away slated for February 24, 2019.