When Eddie Murphy dropped out as Oscar host this year, Hollywood insiders and fans were incensed at the thought of another pabulum-filled telecast. Even though Billy Crystal is a delightful sloppy second, he’s still too predictable. Heck, this years award show’s motto might as well be “Safety First”.
When Murphy was originally handpicked by producer Brett Ratner (who was later canned for unnecessary, offensive gay slurs), the 2012 award show was looking better than it had in years. Murphy is, at his core, a comedian’s comedian … irreverent, offensive and mischievous. He’s also his own worst enemy – and without his partner-in-crime Ratner, there was nowhere to go but down.
So Murphy bolted with a mere four months to find a new host. (Cue the “please-hire-me” Crystal.) But Eddie has had more than his share of Hollywood screw-ups – so it’s no big surprise he shot himself in the foot … again.
Even though Ratner was out of the picture, the gays were still out for blood. Incensed by Ratner’s comments, they then directed their anger towards Murphy – who hasn’t exactly been complimentary of homosexuals in the past. His 1983 stand-up movie Delirious is now a handbook on how not to slur the gays.
Not to mention, Murphy was likely still smarting that he didn’t win a Best Supporting Actor statuette in 2007 for Dreamgirls. He was favored to win until Academy voters caught wind of Murphy’s god-awful movie Norbit which was released about the same time. Murphy + fat suit + drag = Alan Arkin winning the award that year for Little Miss Sunshine. Sounds like a grudge match to me.
And while we’re on the subject, he didn’t win any fans when he struck up a romance with Spice Girl Melanie Brown during that time, got her preggers and then denied paternity. The kid turned out to be Murphy’s … with whom he refuses to have any sort of contact.
But the real reason that Murphy bid a hasty adieu to his hosting duties is because he can. From his dalliances with transvestite hookers to his slew of box office bombs, Murphy apologizes for nothing. He’s like a petulant child who gets away with anything and everything. Makes you wonder if he’ll be watching the Academy Award Show on Sunday night with his arms folded, pouting. Just Sayin’.
