He described the era as a "whole different world," a time when he was selling out arenas and starring in blockbuster movies like "Beverly Hills Cop." Yet, despite his success, Murphy revealed that he was often the target of "cheap shots," many of which he perceived as racially motivated.
According to The Blaze, the 63-year-old comedian recounted his experiences with the press, describing them as "relentless," with a significant portion of their criticism steeped in racism. "It was a whole different [time], there was no black Hollywood, there were no rappers... it was the '80s, and it was just a whole different world," Murphy shared in a conversation with David Marchese from the New York Times.
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Murphy's recollections of the era reveal a deeply personal struggle with the negative press, particularly a joke made by fellow comedian David Spade on "Saturday Night Live" (SNL), a show Murphy is credited with revitalizing during his tenure from 1980-1984. "That hurt my feelings; that hurt my feelings like, you know when David Spade said that s*** about my career on 'SNL.' It was like 'yo it's in-house, I'm one of the family and you f***in' with me like that?' It hurt my feelings."
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The joke in question was made by Spade during his "Hollywood Minute" segment in 1995. He showed a picture of Murphy and quipped, "Look, children, it's a falling star. Make a wish." Murphy was deeply affected by this, especially considering his significant contributions to the show. "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," he asserted.
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Murphy further expressed his disappointment with the SNL team, stating, "You got somebody on from the cast making a crack about my career, and I know that he can't just say that. A joke has to go through these channels. So, the producers thought it was okay to say that and all the people that have been on that show you never heard nobody make no joke about anybody's career."
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The "Coming to America" star also shared instances of being misquoted in the press during the Reagan era, a time when he felt the media portrayed him in a "weird, ghetto" manner. He was even criticized by black outlets for his movie "The Nutty Professor." Murphy recalled, "I remember Ebony magazine instead of talking about the movie and my performance and all that they said 'maybe there'll come a day when a black man can play a professor and he doesn't have to be nutty.' I was like, what the f***?! That's the review of my movie? That's the review of that? I play all these different characters and that's what you say about me, and it's us, and it's me?! Yeah, that hurt my feelings."
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Despite the challenges, Murphy maintains a positive outlook. He stated that things "worked out great" in the long run, and he is now on good terms with Spade and SNL producer Lorne Michaels. Currently, the comedian is promoting "Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F." His candid revelations serve as a stark reminder of the racial prejudice that permeated the entertainment industry, even at the height of a successful career like Murphy's.
