Eddie Murphy on Comedy Comeback and Cancel Culture: “I’d Say What I Want and Do What I Want”
Eddie Murphy is reflecting on his long career and the state of comedy in a new Netflix documentary, Being Eddie, which will stream starting November 12.
The film, directed by Angus Wall, follows Murphy from his early days as a stand-up to becoming a teenage cast member on Saturday Night Live and later a movie star known for hits like Beverly Hills Cop, The Nutty Professor, and Shrek.
The documentary includes interviews with Jamie Foxx, Jerry Seinfeld, Dave Chappelle, Tracee Ellis Ross, Chris Rock, and others.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Murphy discussed how he has made peace with past conflicts. This includes reconnecting with director John Landis, who appears in the documentary, and with the SNL team when he returned to host in 2019.
Murphy also shared his humorous ideas for accepting a potential honorary Oscar and mentioned a movie reboot he’s excited about, if the script ever comes together.
Murphy opened up about how his stand-up was scrutinized after he became famous and gave his thoughts on cancel culture in comedy.
He said, “I can’t think of a comedian that said a joke that made them get canceled. I feel like that whole canceled thing was just a moment in time where people were like, ‘Comics have to be careful what they say.’”
He noted that younger comedians today are more defiant, saying whatever they want. “If you go into clubs, the comics are talking crazier than ever. They say whatever the f*** they want to say. It’s a generation that’s coming up now that’s defiant about that whole cancel culture s***: ‘F**** that cancel culture s***. Let the chips fall where they may.’ If I ever did it again, I would say what I wanted to say and do whatever I wanted to do. I’m not even thinking about getting canceled at 64, after 50 years in the business.”
Murphy’s candid take highlights his confidence and experience in the comedy world. After half a century in entertainment, he clearly feels free to speak his mind and keep pushing boundaries.
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