Eddie Murphy didn’t hold back when addressing a controversial joke made by David Spade during his time on Saturday Night Live in the 1990s. Murphy, a comedic giant with a longstanding career spanning decades, felt deeply disrespected by the crack about his career.
“It was like: ‘Yo, it’s in-house! I’m one of the family, and you’re f—— with me like that? It hurt my feelings like that,” explained Murphy. The sentiment was amplified given Eddie’s critical role in shaping SNL. “This is Saturday Night Live. I’m the biggest thing that ever came off that show. The show would have been off the air if I didn’t go back on the show…”
Eddie’s Reaction to the Offending Joke
The former SNL star conveyed his frustration at the slight, especially considering no one else had received such treatment. “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,” he continued, pointing out the exceptional nature of his case.
A Career Defined by Highs and Lows
Murphy’s words resonate against a backdrop of an illustrious yet challenging career. “Like many stars, Eddie’s had his share of relative failures alongside his successes.”
From blockbuster hits like Beverly Hills Cop and The Nutty Professor to less celebrated efforts like Vampire in Brooklyn, Murphy has seen it all. Speaking on his career moves, Murphy mentioned, “The only way I was able to do Nutty Professor and to get out of my Paramount deal, I had to do Vampire in Brooklyn.”
A Long Hiatus from SNL
The fallout from Spade’s joke was significant. After the incident, Murphy didn’t return to host SNL for nearly three decades. Reflecting on this time, he commented, “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… It’s all love.”
David Spade’s Response in His Memoir
Spade addressed Murphy’s dissatisfaction years later in his memoir Almost Interesting. He expressed some understanding of Murphy’s perspective: “I’ve come to see Eddie’s point… Everybody in showbiz wants people to like them. But when you get reamed… That shit staaaangs.” This nuanced acknowledgment highlighted how remarks in comedy can ripple painfully through one’s career.
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