Kevin and Taylor, then known as Tevin, during happier days.

I feel bad for Kevin Hart. I really do. Sure, he's hilarious and talented, which is why he's hosting the 2012 MTV VMAs this Thursday, and it's the opportunity of a lifetime, and his stock's about to go through the roof, and he may even meet One Direction. (They don't pay you in money for hosting the VMAs. They just let you meet One Direction. Same thing, really.) But sadly, looming behind all of this success like a storm cloud is his public shaming by Taylor Swift in the face of their headline-making breakup. It was like "Tom and Katie WHO? WHO CARES when Kevin and Taylor aren't together anymore?" And just, like, watching her deny their love and then turning around and writing “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” -- the biggest hit of her life? Ice cold. No one should have their private business turned public like that, you know? But Kevin Hart is not taking this sitting down. I caught up with him during a break in his busy VMA rehearsal schedule (he's moving on, staying busy, which is good), where he told me the real reason they didn’t work out.

"Me and Taylor definitely were dating, and I think she just kinda threw me for a whirlwind when she denied the whole thing," he confirmed. "I love hard. Taylor was an example of when loving hard goes wrong." There you have it: Good love gone bad. Sounds like they're never ever getting back together, even if they do run into each other when Taylor performs at the VMAs. Stay strong, Kevin. We still need you to host the VMAs on Thursday!

+ Watch Kevin Hart discuss his breakup with Taylor Swift.

Don't miss the 2012 MTV VMAs live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, Sept. 6, at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

Photo credit: MTV