Comedian Eddie Murphy has dropped out as host of the 84th annual Academy Awards ceremony. The move comes a day after Brett Ratner stepped down as the show’s producer amidst controversy over his use of a homophobic slur and explicit comments about his sex life on Howard Stern’s Sirius XM show.
“First and foremost I want to say that I completely understand and support each party’s decision with regard to a change of producers for this year’s Academy Awards ceremony,” Murphy said in a statement. “I was truly looking forward to being a part of the show that our production team and writers were just starting to develop, but I’m sure that the new production team and host will do an equally great job.”
Ratner drafted Murphy, the star of his new movie “Tower Heist,” to host the annual awards show in September. Ratner had been tapped to co-produce the Oscars in August with industry veteran Don Mischer, who will stay on as a producer.
Tom Sherak, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences president, responded to Murphy’s decision via a statement. “I appreciate how Eddie feels about losing his creative partner, Brett Ratner, and we all wish him well,” Sherak said.
Sentiment against Ratner grew this week after he made a homophobic slur at a screening of “Tower Heist” over the weekend at the ArcLight Theatre in Hollywood. When Ratner was asked during a Q&A how much he rehearses with actors before shooting a scene, he responded that, “Rehearsal is for fags.” He followed up the offensive remark with a bizarre interview on Howard Stern’s show in which he described sending potential lovers for STD tests before sleeping with them because he is a “germaphobe.”
GLAAD quickly declared Ratner’s use of the word “fag” as “unacceptable.” And Ratner attempted to curb the fallout by issuing an apology. “I apologize for any offense my remarks caused,” he told showbiz blog The Wrap on Monday. “It was a dumb way of expressing myself. Everyone who knows me knows that I don’t have a prejudiced bone in my body. But as a storyteller I should have been much more thoughtful about the power of language and my choice of words.”
Under growing pressure, Ratner chose to resign. “[He] did the right thing for the Academy and for himself … Words have meaning, and they have consequences,” said Sherak in a statement yesterday. “It is our sincere belief—as well as Brett’s—that this terrible event may ultimately raise awareness and yield some good.”
Veteran producer Brian Grazer is reportedly in discussions to replace Ratner, according to The Hollywood Reporter. It remains to be seen who will emcee the event after Murphy’s exit. The show will take place Feb. 26th.
Two weeks ago, Murphy joked to “Entertainment Tonight” that he would be the worst Oscar host of all time. “I think it’s so funny that people think I’m the perfect for this. I’m going to be horrendous … I’m going to be the worst host ever,” he said. “I’m going to wear a powered sky blue tuxedo and at the end of the evening I’m going to urinate on myself in front of a billion people.”