Eddie Murphy has publicly shared his belief that the controversial comments he made during an Oscar ceremony hurt his chances of ever winning an Academy Award, a topic explored in his new Netflix documentary, Being Eddie. The Eddie Murphy Oscar speech controversy is now being discussed as Murphy opens up about the impact on his long and notable career.
Murphy Shares His Perspective on Academy Award Snubs
Within Being Eddie, Murphy offers candid reflections on his decades in Hollywood, including why he thinks the Academy has never honored him with an Oscar. Speaking about the ceremony, Murphy recalls his bold remarks made while tasked as a presenter, describing the moments he knew such honesty might cost him professionally.
“Every now and then, somebody will see it and be like, ‘Wow. Eddie was talking s—- at the Oscars way back then?’”
— Eddie Murphy, Actor
He expressed his awareness of the risks before speaking out on stage.
“I even said right before, I said, ‘I’ll probably never get an Oscar for saying this….’ And I went…. I went and did it.”
— Eddie Murphy, Actor
Recalling His Unfiltered Speech at the Oscars
When reflecting on the Oscars ceremony, Murphy explained that he initially hesitated to accept the role of presenter due to how Black artists had been overlooked at the Academy Awards. He recalled telling the organizers,
“My first reaction was to say, ‘No, I ain’t going,…I’m not going because they haven’t recognized Black people in the motion pictures.”
— Eddie Murphy, Actor
Determined to speak his mind, Murphy emphasized his conviction despite knowing the risks:
“I’ll probably never win an Oscar for saying this, but hey, what the hey, I got to say it.…”
— Eddie Murphy, Actor
Missing Out After Dreamgirls and Ongoing Disappointment
Murphy was nominated for his performance in Dreamgirls but ultimately lost to Alan Arkin, who won for Little Miss Sunshine. Looking back, Murphy voiced both his disappointment and the sense of exhaustive effort he’s put into his profession.
“I haven’t gotten an Oscar, and I’ve done everything. I’ve played everything and done everything. And I haven’t gotten an Oscar.”
— Eddie Murphy, Actor
While he joked about the situation, he was clear about his frustration with the outcome.
“But I don’t think it’s because of that.”
— Eddie Murphy, Actor
The Aftermath: Feeling Overlooked by the Industry
After making his controversial speech, Murphy noticed an intangible shift in how he was treated at the event and in the media, highlighting his sense of being ignored altogether following his comments.
“The next day, it was like I didn’t say anything. There were no pictures of me at the Oscars. There was no coverage of me.”
— Eddie Murphy, Actor
“There was no mention that I said that. It was like I wasn’t at the Oscars.”
— Eddie Murphy, Actor
Eddie Murphy’s experience with the Academy Awards, as explored in his Netflix documentary, casts a spotlight on the ongoing debate about recognition and fairness in Hollywood. The Eddie Murphy Oscar speech controversy serves as a stark reminder of how speaking out on issues of representation can have enduring professional consequences, and it remains to be seen if the industry will reconsider its past decisions or continue on a similar path regarding diverse voices in film.
