Eddie Murphy refused to do a skit that would lampoon Bill Cosby on "Saturday Night Live" 40th anniversary special because he "will not kick a man when he is down."
This piece of news is shared by Norm Macdonald, a regular cast member at SNL who helped coordinate the special reunion show. The anniversary episode featured the "Beverly Hills Cop" star along with Paul McCartney, Tom Hanks and MIley Cyrus, among other top celebrities, The Guardian reported.
The sketch would have featured Eddie Murphy, in one of Bill Cosby's iconic multi-hued sweaters, mixing himself a drink. The 77-year-old comedian, once a much-loved figure in the comedy industry and one of the pioneers of mainstream black TV personalities, is on the receiving end of a string of allegations from women who say "The Cosby Show" star assaulted them.
Macdonald shared that producer Brett Ratner was the one who suggested the Cosby sketch to Murphy for "Saturday Night Live" 40th anniversary special.
The "Coming to America" star was reportedly "uncomfortable" with the idea but also wondered if it would be okay to perform the skit "since he's doing pre-allegation Cosby." On the eve of the anniversary show however, when Macdonald tried to get him to play the role, the comedian refused.
"Eddie Murphy, I realize, is not like the rest of us. Eddie does not need the laughs," Macdonald shared. "Eddie Murphy is the coolest, a rockstar even in a room with actual rockstars."
The sketch turned out to be performed by Kenan Thompson, formerly of "Kenan and Kel" and who works in SNL as a current cast member.
Other comedians are more upfront with joking about the matter, such as the stand-up comedian Hannibal Burress. He reportedly said in one of his stand-up comedy routines:
"Bill Cosby has the fuckin' smuggest old black man public persona that I hate. He gets on TV, 'Pull your pants up black people, I was on TV in the 80s! I can talk down to you because I had a successful sitcom!' Yeah, but you rape women, Bill Cosby, so turn the crazy down a couple notches."
The "Saturday Night Live" 40th anniversary special aired last Feb. 15.
