Eddie Murphy On What Robin Williams Told Him Before Oscars Speech Calling Out Academy For Lack Of Recognition Of Black Actors: “Why Go There?”

Eddie Murphy is recalling his 1988 Oscars speech, in which he called out the Academy for its lack of recognition of Black actors, and what Robin Williams told him before he took the stage.

In a new interview, Murphy recalled presenting at the Oscars, where he presented the Best Picture category.

“I remember being with Robin Williams backstage. I was like, ‘I’m gonna say this.’ And he goes to me, like, ‘But why go there?'” Murphy told Entertainment Weekly.

He continued, “I was like, ‘Oh, you don’t think it’s funny?’ It was more, is it funny? Rather than it’s controversial. I was trying to be funny and say a little something, but be funny too. Have a little edge to what I said.”

Murphy noted that when he made the speech, he “wasn’t thinking of the ramifications of it,” adding, “I was just trying to be funny in the moment and I wanted what I was saying to be relevant.”

In his speech at the Oscars, Murphy told the audience that when his management told him about the opportunity to present at the ceremony, he didn’t want to go.

“I’m not going because they haven’t recognized Black people in the motion picture,” he said.

The Coming to America actor proceeded to recall the Black actors who had won in its 60-year history, like Hattie McDaniel, Sidney Poitier, and Louis Gossett Jr.

“I’ll probably never win an Oscar for saying this, but hey, what the hey, I gotta say it,” he continued. “Actually, I might not be in any trouble ’cause the way it’s been going is about every 20 years we get one, so we ain’t due to about 2004. So by that time, this will all be blown over.”

Murphy’s speech continued, “So I came down here to give the award. I said, ‘But I just feel that we have to be recognized as a people. I just want you to know I’m gonna give this award, but Black people will not ride the caboose of society, and we will not bring up the rear anymore. And I want you to recognize us.'”