Eddie Murphy first rose to fame on Saturday Night Live in the early 1980s. He helped lift the show’s ratings and became a household name. After leaving the cast, he built a successful film career with blockbusters such as “Beverly Hills Cop” and “Coming to America.” By the mid 1990s he faced a series of box office setbacks. One of those setbacks was the horror film “Vampire in Brooklyn,” directed by Wes Craven.
The Joke That Sparked the Rift
In 1995 the SNL cast aired a Weekend Update segment. David Spade made a joke about Murphy’s recent flop. He said, “Look, children, it is a falling star. Make a wish! You make a Hollywood minute omelet, you break some eggs.” The joke landed on a national audience and hit Murphy hard.
In the Netflix documentary “Being Eddie” Murphy explains that he felt the joke attacked his entire career, not just the film. He says, “I felt hurt. I felt like my alma mater was taking a shot at me. It was not about how funny I was, it was about my career.” He adds that the comment made him question his relationship with SNL.
Why He Walked Away
Murphy did not blame Spade personally. He said his anger was aimed at the show itself. He used strong language, calling the writers “dirty motherfuckers” and declaring, “I am done with SNL.” That statement explains why he stayed away for decades.
Spade’s Perspective
In his 2015 memoir Spade writes that the reaction to his joke was far worse than he imagined. He wanted to apologize, but Murphy never responded. Spade described the incident as a painful misunderstanding between two comedians who once admired each other.
After a long silence Murphy made a brief cameo at the SNL 40th anniversary special in 2015. He later returned as host for the 2019 Christmas episode. In the documentary he says, “SNL is part of my history. I need to reconnect with that show because that is where I come from.” He notes that the old friction is now a distant memory.
What the Documentary Shows
“Being Eddie” offers a candid look at Murphy’s career highs and lows. It covers his early SNL success, his film triumphs, the “Vampire in Brooklyn” flop, and the SNL joke that caused a rift. The film also explores his recent comeback and his thoughts on comedy today. The documentary is now streaming on Netflix.
Fans can see how the Eddie Murphy SNL feud shaped his choices and how he eventually healed the wound. The story highlights the power of words on live television and the resilience of a comedy legend.
Source: Variety
