Veteran actor and comedian Eddie Murphy has finally addressed the long-standing mystery behind his swift exit from the 79th Academy Awards ceremony in 2007. The star, who was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role in 'Dreamgirls', left the event immediately after losing the award to Alan Arkin. Murphy, now 64, has clarified that his departure was a calm and deliberate choice to avoid an evening filled with pity, not an emotional outburst.
The Night of the 79th Academy Awards
In 2007, Eddie Murphy was considered a frontrunner for the Oscar. His powerful portrayal of singer James "Thunder" Early in the musical drama 'Dreamgirls' had already earned him several major awards that season. The anticipation was high. However, the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor ultimately went to veteran actor Alan Arkin for his role in 'Little Miss Sunshine'.
While promoting his new documentary 'Being Eddie', Murphy spoke to Entertainment Weekly to set the record straight. He explained that after the loss, well-meaning attendees, including Hollywood legend Clint Eastwood, began offering condolences. "What happened was I was at the Oscars, I had lost, and then people kept coming over to me and kept [patting] me on the shoulder," Murphy recalled. "Clint Eastwood came and rubbed my shoulder. And I was like, 'Oh, no, no, I'm not gonna be this guy all night. Let's just leave'. I didn't storm out. I was like, 'I'm not gonna be the sympathy guy all night'."
Dispelling Rumours and Acknowledging a Worthy Winner
Murphy also took the opportunity to dismiss other rumours from that night. He emphasised that his early exit had nothing to do with anger, disappointment, or resentment. It was not a snub towards his 'Dreamgirls' co-stars, including Jennifer Hudson, who won Best Supporting Actress that same night, nor did he miss the film's musical performance out of spite.
In fact, Murphy revealed he had a strong预感 about the outcome months earlier. After watching 'Little Miss Sunshine' at a private screening, he told producer Jeff Katzenberg, "Now that performance right there is one of those performances that will steal somebody's Oscar." He later joked, "Then he stole mine," before graciously adding, "No, I don't feel like he stole mine."
Murphy concluded by paying tribute to Alan Arkin, who passed away in 2023 at the age of 89. He described Arkin as "an amazing actor" whose long and distinguished career fully merited the Oscar honour.
The Intangible Science of Winning an Oscar
Reflecting on the entire experience, Murphy shared his perspective on what it takes to win the prestigious award. He stated that since his nomination, he has learned that winning an Oscar is "more art than science." "It's not like, 'Oh, you do this, and you do that, and you win the Oscar,'" he explained. "No, it's all this intangible stuff that comes with winning: campaigning and your past stuff and what do they owe you... All of that stuff comes into play when you get Oscars."
Murphy's candid reflections are part of his documentary 'Being Eddie', which is currently available for streaming on OTT platforms. The film offers a deeper look into the life and career of the iconic comedian, providing context to moments like his memorable 2007 Oscars exit.
