Hollywood star Eddie Murphy has finally addressed the long-standing mystery behind his swift exit from the 79th Academy Awards ceremony in 2007. The actor-comedian left the Dolby Theatre shortly after losing the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his acclaimed role in the musical drama 'Dreamgirls'.
The Real Reason Behind the Swift Exit
In a recent interview promoting his Netflix documentary 'Being Eddie', Murphy, now 64, explained that his departure was a calm and calculated decision. He wanted to avoid an entire evening of receiving pity and sympathetic gestures from fellow attendees. The ceremony took place on February 25, 2007.
"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 told Entertainment Weekly. He specifically recalled Hollywood legend Clint Eastwood coming over to console him. "And I was like, 'Oh, no, no, I'm not gonna be this guy all night. Let's just leave'," he stated, clarifying he did not storm out in anger.
Anticipating the Loss and Honouring the Winner
Murphy revealed he had a strong premonition about losing the award months before the event. After watching 'Little Miss Sunshine' at a private screening, he told producer Jeff Katzenberg that veteran actor Alan Arkin's performance was the type that "will steal somebody's Oscar."
"Then he stole mine," Murphy joked, before quickly adding, "No, I don't feel like he stole mine." He went on to praise Arkin, who passed away in 2023 at age 89, as "an amazing actor" whose distinguished career fully merited the honour. Arkin won for his role as Edwin Hoover in the comedy-drama.
Dispelling Rumours and Oscar Insights
The actor also used the opportunity to clear up other rumours. He emphasised that his early exit had nothing to do with skipping celebrations with his Dreamgirls co-stars, including Jennifer Hudson, who won Best Supporting Actress that night. It also wasn't because he missed the film's musical performance.
Reflecting on the Oscar race, Murphy shared his perspective that winning the coveted statuette is "more art than science." He explained it involves intangible factors like campaigning, an actor's past work, and industry perceptions, rather than just the quality of a single performance.
Eddie Murphy's documentary, 'Being Eddie', which offers a deeper look into his life and career, is currently available for streaming on Netflix.
