Eddie Murphy reflected being offended by a joke that David Spade made about him during a 1995 episode of « SNL. » Murphy said that he felt the joke was a « cheap shot » and « racist. »
Eddie Murphy recalled being offended by a « racist » joke that David Spade made about him during a « Saturday Night Live » sketch that aired almost 30 years ago.
During Saturday’s episode of The New York Times’ The Interview podcast, the 63-year-old actor and comedian reflected on the « cheap shots » that he felt he had taken over the years, especially from the media during the early years of his career.
« Back in the old days, they used to be relentless on me, and a lot of it was racist stuff. It was the ’80s and just a whole different world », Murphy said.
Murphy then pointed to « when David Spade said that s— about my career on ‘SNL », referring to a joke that Spade, now 59, made during a « Hollywood Minute » sketch on a December 1995 episode of the show.
In the segment, a photo of Murphy appeared on the screen with Spade saying, « Look children, it’s a falling star, make a wish. »
Murphy told the NYT that the joke was about his 1995 horror comedy « Vampire in Brooklyn », which he said « flopped » after it had been released two months before the sketch.
The « Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F » star, who rose to fame starring on « SNL » from 1980 to 1984 and was credited with saving the show from cancelation at one point, was stung that the dig at his career came from an « SNL » cast member.
« 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, yeah », Murphy told the NYT.
He continued, « It was like: Wait, hold on. 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, 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 added.
