Eddie Murphy's Longstanding Rift With Saturday Night Live Was All Because of a Searing Joke
In his new documentary "Being Eddie," the comedy legend opens up about why he shied away from hosting 'SNL' for decades. It all came down to a joke that David Spade made on the show in 1995, mocking Murphy's struggling movie career after the release of the box office flop "Vampire in Brooklyn."
At the time, Murphy called the joke "racist," but he clarifies in the doc that his anger was directed at 'SNL' as a whole. The show made him a comedy star and revitalized its ratings when he was a cast member from 1980 to 1984.
Spade joked about "Vampire in Brooklyn" on 'Weekend Update,' saying, "Look, children, it's a falling star. Make a wish! You make a Hollywood minute omelet, you break some eggs." Murphy felt hurt by the joke, especially since he took it as an attack on his career rather than a comment about his comedy skills.
The reaction to Spade's joke was intense, with Murphy recalling that the audience at 'SNL' booed and hissed at him. When asked in the doc how he really felt, Murphy admitted that his anger was directed at the show itself, not Spade directly.
"I was like, you know what? F**k this,' Murphy says about coming back to 'SNL.' "I need to reconnect with that show because that's where I come from. That little friction that I had with SNL was 35 years ago. I don't have no smoke with nobody."
The feud between Spade and Murphy seems long-since resolved, but the wound never fully healed for Murphy. It wasn't until decades later that he decided to return to 'SNL' and make amends.
In his new documentary "Being Eddie," the comedy legend opens up about why he shied away from hosting 'SNL' for decades. It all came down to a joke that David Spade made on the show in 1995, mocking Murphy's struggling movie career after the release of the box office flop "Vampire in Brooklyn."
At the time, Murphy called the joke "racist," but he clarifies in the doc that his anger was directed at 'SNL' as a whole. The show made him a comedy star and revitalized its ratings when he was a cast member from 1980 to 1984.
Spade joked about "Vampire in Brooklyn" on 'Weekend Update,' saying, "Look, children, it's a falling star. Make a wish! You make a Hollywood minute omelet, you break some eggs." Murphy felt hurt by the joke, especially since he took it as an attack on his career rather than a comment about his comedy skills.
The reaction to Spade's joke was intense, with Murphy recalling that the audience at 'SNL' booed and hissed at him. When asked in the doc how he really felt, Murphy admitted that his anger was directed at the show itself, not Spade directly.
"I was like, you know what? F**k this,' Murphy says about coming back to 'SNL.' "I need to reconnect with that show because that's where I come from. That little friction that I had with SNL was 35 years ago. I don't have no smoke with nobody."
The feud between Spade and Murphy seems long-since resolved, but the wound never fully healed for Murphy. It wasn't until decades later that he decided to return to 'SNL' and make amends.
. I mean, who hasn't had a rough time in Hollywood, right? 
And to be roasted on live TV by someone you trusted... that's gotta hurt 
. It's crazy how one joke can leave such a mark, though 
. But hey, it's all water under the bridge now, and Eddie's moved forward 
. I'm just glad he was able to work through his feelings and even made amends with David Spade 
.
. I mean Eddie Murphys struggling movie career after "Vampire in Brooklyn" was a bummer, but did it really warrant such harsh words? Idk, maybe the joke just hit a nerve and thats why its been lingering for so long 
. On another note, Im glad they both seem to have moved on from that feud and Murphys willingness to reconnect with "SNL" is super admirable 
. Maybe we can all learn from this to let go of past grudges and move forward 
.
. But at the same time, I can see how it might have been just a joke and not meant to be personal 
.
. And I'm glad it sounds like he's made amends with Spade and moved on from it 
. Anyway, gotta say, I love the format of this doc - all the behind-the-scenes stuff and interviews are so cool 
!
. It's almost as if the humor of that moment has become etched in his psyche, a reminder of the risks and vulnerabilities that come with being in the public eye 
. On a broader note, I think this incident highlights how easily our perceptions can be shaped by the opinions of others, and how those opinions can haunt us for years to come 
.
. And let's be real, Murphy's comeback story is one for the ages 
!