Eddie Murphy‘s daring critique of the Oscars in 1988 has resurfaced in discussions with Entertainment Weekly, as he promotes his Netflix documentary, “Being Eddie.” During the ceremony that year, Murphy boldly called out the Academy for its lack of recognition of Black actors, a move that was met with mixed reactions. Notably, Robin Williams had cautioned him that the remark might not be well-received. Murphy’s candor became a memorable moment, though it garnered surprisingly little media attention at the time.
The Oscar Night That Made History
Reflecting on the Oscars night, Murphy recalled presenting the Best Picture award to Bernardo Bertolucci’s “The Last Emperor.” He seized the opportunity to address the Academy’s history of underrecognizing Black talent. Murphy expected his comments to make headlines in Hollywood, but he was taken aback when they didn’t gain significant traction.
“I remember being with Robin Williams backstage,” Murphy told EW. He recounted their conversation, noting that Williams questioned the decision to bring up the subject. Murphy said, “I was trying to be funny and say a little something, but be funny too.”
A Bold Statement
During his speech, Murphy shared how his manager informed him about the Oscars invitation, initially prompting him to decline. “I’m not going because they haven’t recognized Black people in motion pictures,” he boldly declared to the audience. Murphy made light of the situation, suggesting that recognition for Black actors came only once every two decades.
At that time, merely three Black performers had won Oscars in the awards’ history: Hattie McDaniel, Sidney Poitier, and Louis Gossett Jr. It wouldn’t be until two years later that Denzel Washington would join this exclusive group.
An Unforgettable Legacy
Murphy concluded his speech by stating, “‘But I just feel that we have to be recognized as a people…Black people will not ride the caboose of society.” In his conversation with EW, Murphy admitted he wasn’t fully considering the consequences, saying, “I was just trying to be funny in the moment and I wanted what I was saying to be relevant.”
While Murphy has yet to receive an Oscar, he was a frontrunner in 2007 for “Dreamgirls.” Despite winning accolades from the Golden Globes and SAG Awards, Alan Arkin ultimately won the Oscar for “Little Miss Sunshine.” Some speculated that Murphy’s film “Norbit,” released around the same time, affected his Oscar chances. Still, Murphy remains unapologetic about the movie, defending its humor in recent interviews.
“I love ‘Norbit,’” Murphy remarked earlier this year. He shared that despite receiving Razzie Awards, he and his brother, Charlie, stand by their work, emphasizing the film’s comedic intent.
“Being Eddie” premieres on Netflix on November 12, continuing to showcase Murphy’s impactful and often unapologetic career.
