Eddie Murphy Reveals the Real Reason He Left the 2007 Oscars After His Loss

Eddie Murphy has opened up about his early exit from the 2007 Academy Awards, putting long-running rumors to rest. The actor says his decision to leave the ceremony had nothing to do with anger or frustration.

Murphy explained the moment in a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly. He said that after losing the Best Supporting Actor award, the attention he received made him uncomfortable. People kept approaching him to offer sympathy, and he did not want that to define the rest of his night.

“What happened was I was at the Oscars, I had lost, and then people kept coming over to me and kept [patting] me on the shoulder,” Murphy said. “Clint Eastwood came and rubbed my shoulder. And I was like, ‘Oh, no, no, I’m not gonna be this guy all night. Let’s just leave.’”

Murphy made it clear that his exit was calm and planned. He said there was no dramatic walkout. “I didn’t storm out,” he added. “I was like, ‘I’m not gonna be the sympathy guy all night.’”

That year, Murphy was nominated for playing James “Thunder” Early in Dreamgirls. He competed against Mark Wahlberg, Jackie Earle Haley, Djimon Hounsou, and Alan Arkin. Arkin won the award for his role in Little Miss Sunshine.

Murphy also shared that the outcome did not surprise him. He recalled watching Little Miss Sunshine months before awards season and being struck by Arkin’s performance.

“Jeff Katzenberg invited me over to see ‘Little Miss Sunshine’ six months before it came out,” Murphy said. “I turned to Jeff afterwards and I said, ‘Now that performance right there is one of those performances that will steal somebody’s Oscar.’”

Murphy joked that his prediction came true. “I was like, ‘He could steal somebody’s Oscar,’ then he stole mine,” he said, before adding, “No, I don’t feel like he stole mine.”

Despite Murphy’s loss, Dreamgirls had a strong night. The film received eight nominations and won awards for sound mixing and Best Supporting Actress, which went to Jennifer Hudson.

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