Jamie Foxx Reveals Why Eddie Murphy Had an Extra Removed From ‘Dreamgirls’ Set

Jamie Foxx has shared a funny behind-the-scenes moment from the filming of Dreamgirls that involved Eddie Murphy and an unexpected interruption on set.

Foxx talked about the incident while promoting his recent movie Back in Action with Cameron Diaz. He looked back at the 2006 production of Dreamgirls, where Murphy played James “Thunder” Early, a role that earned strong praise and an Oscar nomination.

According to Foxx, Murphy took his work very seriously during filming. He stayed focused and kept a strict, serious tone on set, especially during emotional scenes. The atmosphere was calm and intense as the cast worked through a difficult moment.

Things changed quickly when a background actor made an offhand joke at the wrong time. As Murphy was leaving the set after a tense scene, the extra shouted out a comment linking him to one of his most famous roles.

The extra called out, “Ain’t that the donkey from Shrek?!”

The joke referred to Murphy’s well-known voice role in the Shrek movies. Even though it was meant as humor, the timing did not match the serious mood of the set. Murphy was fully in character and focused on his dramatic role at the time.

Foxx said the reaction on set was immediate. The light moment disappeared, and the environment turned serious again in seconds. Production quickly stepped in to handle the situation.

The extra was removed from the set shortly after the incident. Foxx explained that the comment was seen as disrespectful in that moment, especially given the importance of Murphy’s performance in the film.

He also shared the story while speaking to Cameron Diaz, who famously voiced Princess Fiona in the Shrek franchise. That connection made the story even more ironic, since both actors had ties to the animated films being referenced.

Moments like this show how sensitive film sets can be, especially when actors are deep in demanding roles. Even a quick joke can cause problems if the timing is wrong.

This is one of those situations where intention and timing matter more than the joke itself. It was probably meant as harmless humor, but the setting made it inappropriate. What do you think about the incident? Share your thoughts in the comments.