During a recent interview with The New York Times, Eddie Murphy opened up about a joke made at his expense during a 1995 segment of NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” (SNL). The joke, delivered by then-cast member David Spade, was part of Spade’s “Hollywood Minute,” a segment known for its biting humor. Spade, with an image of Murphy behind him, quipped, “Look, children. It’s a falling star. Make a wish.” The audience reacted with a mix of laughter and groans, but Murphy was not amused, especially given the context of his recent box office failure, “Vampire in Brooklyn.”
Murphy, a former SNL star, comedian, and actor, felt the joke was a cheap shot. “Most people that get off that show, they don’t go on and have these amazing careers. It was personal. It was like, ‘Yo, how could you do that?’ My career? Really? A joke about my career? So, I thought that was a cheap shot. And it was kind of, I thought — I felt it was racist,” Murphy shared. He elaborated that the joke felt particularly hurtful coming from the same show he had been a part of from 1980 to 1984, a period many believe he helped keep the show afloat during a rough transitional time.
“The show would have been off the air if I didn’t go back on the show, and now you got somebody from the cast making a crack about my career? And I know that he can’t just say that,” Murphy explained. “A joke has to go through these channels. So the producers thought it was OK to say that. And all the people that have been on that show, you’ve never heard nobody make no joke about anybody’s career.”
Murphy and Spade did have a conversation about the joke shortly after it aired. While Murphy hasn’t forgotten the incident, he emphasized that everything is good between him, Spade, and SNL now. Murphy even returned to host the show during Season 45 on December 21, 2019. “In the long run, it’s all good. Worked out great. I’m cool with David Spade. Cool with Lorne Michaels. I went back to ‘SNL.’ I’m cool with everybody. It’s all love,” he shared.
Murphy’s reflections on the joke and its implications highlight the complexities of humor, race, and professional respect. His career, marked by significant achievements, has often intersected with broader cultural and social issues. For instance, Murphy believes that his role in “Beverly Hills Cop” marked a turning point for the movie business. The 1984 action comedy film, in which he played Axel Foley, a street-smart detective, was a landmark moment for Hollywood. “Before ‘Beverly Hills Cop’, there had never been a movie that starred a black man, black person, that was successful all around the world. Even still, to this day, when black folks, we, make movies, most of the time they work in the States and outside of the country they don’t work,” Murphy explained to ‘Extra’.
Murphy suggested that his success paved the way for other black actors like Will Smith and Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson. “‘Beverly Hills Cop’ started it, all around the world – that’s where you get Will and The Rock, they do it now, but ‘Beverly Hills Cop’ is the first one that did it,” he said. Despite his numerous successes, Murphy is still best known for playing Axel Foley. He recently reprised the role for “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” and shared with ‘Today’ that whenever he travels overseas, people still recognize him as Axel.
Murphy’s reflections on his career and the SNL joke underscore the enduring impact of his work and the challenges he has faced. His ability to navigate these challenges with grace and humor speaks to his resilience and talent. As he continues to make his mark in Hollywood, Murphy’s experiences serve as a reminder of the importance of respect and understanding in the world of entertainment.
Source: The New York Times, Extra, Today
