In a recent interview with the New York Times, Eddie Murphy opened up about feeling targeted by the media and his peers throughout his career. Reflecting on past incidents, Murphy mentioned a specific instance involving David Spade on “Saturday Night Live” back in December 1995. Spade had made a joke about Murphy’s career after the release of his movie “Vampire in Brooklyn,” which had flopped at the box office. Murphy expressed how the joke had hurt his feelings, calling it a “cheap shot” and suggesting it was racially motivated.
During his time on “SNL” from 1980 to 1984, Murphy became a standout member of the cast and is credited with helping to save the show from cancellation. Despite this, Murphy felt Spade’s joke was personal and crossed a line. Spade later admitted to feeling regret over the incident, acknowledging the impact of such jokes in showbiz.
Murphy has since reconciled with Spade and “SNL” producer Lorne Michaels, even returning to host the show in 2019. While he admits to feeling hurt by the past incident, he emphasizes that there is no bad blood and that it’s all love. “I had a couple of cheap shots,” Murphy shared, reflecting on his journey in showbiz.
