Kevin Hart responds to criticism of Jussie Smollett support

On Tuesday Hart posted on social media about the alleged hate crime committed against Smollett. "Sending prayers your way @jussiesmollett ....This is unbelievably sad," Hart wrote in a caption of a photo of Smollett. "Why are we going backwards....this is disgusting."

Hart went on to say in the caption "We as people have to do better. WTF is going on the world???? Why are we falling in love with hate????"

Police have images of people they'd like to question in Jussie Smollett attack

Smollett, who stars on the TV series "Empire," told police he was attacked by two people "yelling out racial and homophobic slurs" early Tuesday in a Chicago neighborhood.

Smollett plays a gay character on the show and identifies as gay in real life.

Hart ran afoul of the LGBTQ community last year and stepped down from his gig to host the upcoming Oscars ceremony after homophobic tweets he sent years ago resurfaced.

The comedian expressed remorse and told Michael Strahan on "Good Morning America" at the time that he was done apologizing and had "nothing else to prove."

Hart's message to Smollett caused some to push back

"Your funniest joke congrats," TV writer Ira Madison III tweeted.

Hart replied to that tweet with his own.

"I stand with a man in his time of hurt and need by giving him heart felt support and u take the time to harp on my 10yr past that I have apologized about and moved on from by being a better person," Hart tweeted. "Do you want change? If so I am an example of what u want people to do...CHANGE!"