‘It Was a Cheap Shot’

Eddie Murphy has had an impressive career, appearing in Coming to America, Shrek, and Beverly Hills Cop, as well as being a pivotal cast member on Saturday Night Live. However, Murphy can’t help but reflect on some of the jokes he’s endured over his career, particularly the one that was hurled at him in 1995, which he found “kind of racist.”

From 1980 until 1984, the actor was a regular cast member of Saturday Night Live, appearing in 67 episodes during his tenure. In a recent interview with the New York Times, the actor addressed how David Spade, who was on SNL from 1990 to 1996, made a joke about Murphy’s career on a 1995 episode of the show, stating, “Look, children, it’s a falling star. Make a wish.“

It was a metaphorical term referring to Vampire in Brooklyn‘s box office crisis as well as Murphy’s declining career. Given Murphy’s contributions to the show’s popularity in the 1980s, the actor couldn’t help but feel offended and even thought it was racist.

“I’m the biggest thing that ever came off that show. The show would’ve been off the air if I didn’t go back on the show, and now you have somebody from the cast making a crack about my career?” “It was like, ‘Yo, how could you do that?’ My career? Really? A joke about my career? So I thought that was a cheap shot. And it was kind of racist, I thought — I felt it was racist.”

Another major reason why Murphy was offended by the joke was the fact that producers allowed it to air despite knowing it was aimed at him. He went on to say that no one has ever joked about anyone’s career who has appeared on Saturday Night Live.

Did Spade Ever Regret Making the Joke at Murphy’s Expense?

Murphy’s unexpected response after all these years may come as a surprise, especially given how successful he has grown in comparison to his early days. Nevertheless, people tend to recall certain experiences, particularly when they find themselves in tough situations. In any case, while Spade never felt bad about making an insensitive comment on Murphy, he admitted in his 2015 memoir, Almost Interesting, that he had come to understand why it rubbed him the wrong way. He states,

“I try not to think of the casualties when I do rough jokes, but there are consequences sometimes. I know for a fact that I can’t take it when it comes my way. It’s horrible for all the same reasons. I’ve come to see Eddie’s point on this one. Everybody in showbiz wants people to like them. That’s how you get fans. But when you get reamed in a sketch or online or, however, that s— staaaangs.”

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Despite their professional differences, Murphy and Spade remain on good terms, according to the Beverly Hills Cop star. In 2019, Murphy returned to the show, 24 years after the joke, stating that he had forgiven the SNL team.

“In the long run, it’s all good. Worked out great. I’m cool with David Spade. Cool with Lorne Michaels. I went back to SNL. I’m cool with everybody. It’s all love.”