Eddie Murphy says some of his own past jokes make him ‘cringe’, including ones at the expense of the gay community.
The legendary comedian reflected on his four-decade career in an interview with CBS and admitted that some of the jokes he made during old stand-up routines would be deemed offensive if he made them today.
‘Some of it I cringe when I watch it,’ Murphy said. ‘I’m like, oh my God, I can’t believe I said that.’
Eddie Murphy revealed in a new interview that he regrets some of his own past jokes, especially ones at the expense of the gay community. ‘Some of it I cringe when I watch it,’ Murphy said. ‘I’m like, oh my God, I can’t believe I said that’
Murphy was reacting to a clip from his 1983 stand-up special ‘Delirious’, in which he joked: ‘I have nightmares about gay people. … I kid the homosexuals a lot, ’cause they’re homosexuals’
He made the remarks after being shown a clip from a 1983 special ‘Delirious’, in which he quipped: ‘I have nightmares about gay people. … I kid the homosexuals a lot, ’cause they’re homosexuals.’
CBS correspondent Tracy Smith asked: ‘When you watch that stuff, do you laugh? Is it still funny to you?’
Murphy replied: ‘I’ve seen stuff that I’ll go, like, oh, that’s, ooh, yeah, you’ll get a joke that’s cringey.
‘But that’s not to say that I don’t appreciate it. I still appreciate it. And I’m looking at it within the context of the times, you know. And I’m going, okay, I’m a kid, saying that.’
Murphy sat down with CBS to promote his new Netflix movie Dolemite Is My Name.
The film has been met with rave reviews from critics who praised his performance as the late Rudy Ray Moore, a comedian who launches a comeback by creating an outrageous alter ego named Dolemite.
Asked if the movie represents his own comeback, Murphy said: ‘I guess, you know, they like to say comeback.
‘I don’t know. Let’s make it easier. Yes, it’s my comeback. Yes, it’s my big comeback.
‘Every ten years or so I launch a big comeback. I’ve been doing that for the last 40 years. Every ten years, I come back!’
Murphy sat down with CBS to promote his new Netflix movie Dolemite Is My Name. The film was met with rave reviews from critics praising his performance as Rudy Ray Moore (pictured)
Murphy made his triumphant return to Saturday Night Live last week, 35 years after he was credited with reviving the show during his four-year run from 1980-1984.
He caused a stir with his opened monologue when he mocked disgraced comedian Bill Cosby.
‘If you would have told me 30 years ago that I would be this boring stay at home, father of 10 house dad, and Bill Cosby would be in prison, I would have took that bet,’ he said.
‘Who is America’s dad now?’ he added.
A publicist for Cosby, who is currently serving three to 10 years in a Pennsylvania prison for drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand at his home in 2004, responded to Murphy’s jab in a statement.
‘Mr Cosby became the first Black to win an Emmy for his role in I Spy and Mr Cosby broke color barriers in the Entertainment Industry, so that Blacks like Eddie Murphy, Dave Chappell, Kevin Hart and et al, could have an opportunity to showcase their talents for many generations to come,’ publicist Andrew Wyatt said.
‘It is sad that Mr Murphy would take this glorious moment of returning to SNL and make disparaging remarks against Mr Cosby.’
Murphy made his iconic return to Saturday Night Live after 35 years last week
He caused a stir with his opened monologue when he mocked disgraced comedian Bill Cosby, who is currently serving three to 10 years in a Pennsylvania prison for drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand at his home in 2004