Eddie Murphy Reveals SNL Joke’s Impact on His Career

Eddie Murphy has opened up about a painful moment from his past that significantly impacted his relationship with *Saturday Night Live* (SNL). In his new Netflix documentary, *Being Eddie*, Murphy discusses how a joke made by David Spade in December 1995 led him to distance himself from the iconic sketch show for nearly three decades.

In the documentary, Murphy reflects on Spade’s quip during the “Spade in America” segment, which targeted Murphy’s struggling career at the time. Spade’s comment, “Look, children, it’s a falling star. Make a wish,” followed a photo of Murphy and referenced his box office disappointment, *Vampire in Brooklyn*. The joke drew immediate disapproval from the studio audience, who responded with boos.

Murphy recalls, “It’s like your alma mater taking a shot at you.” He expressed that rather than feeling animosity towards Spade, it was SNL that he felt betrayed by. “I was like, oh, f**k SNL. F**k y’all. How y’all gonna do this s**t? That’s what y’all think of me? Oh, you dirty motherf*****s,” he said. This painful experience led Murphy to sever ties with the show he had been part of since 1980.

The producers’ decision to air the joke, despite its potential to offend, further disappointed Murphy. He explained that he felt hurt that such a comment could be deemed acceptable for live broadcast. “The audience there said ‘boo,’ and hissed him for saying it,” Murphy noted, emphasizing the impact of the moment on his feelings about the show.

Reflecting on the present, Murphy acknowledged that SNL has since updated its approach to humor. He noted that similar jokes aimed at cast members would now be rejected. “If there was a joke like that right now, and it was about some other SNL cast member, and it was about how f****d up their career was, it would get shot down,” he explained, highlighting a shift in the show’s culture.

After a hiatus of 35 years, Murphy made a triumphant return to host an SNL episode on December 21, 2019. He described the experience as “great,” signaling a reconciliation with the show that played a significant role in his early career.

*Being Eddie* is currently available for streaming on Netflix, offering an in-depth look at Murphy’s journey and the experiences that shaped his career.