Eddie Murphy Speaks Out on Cancel Culture and His Stand-Up Comeback: “I’m Not Even Thinking About Getting Canceled

Eddie Murphy is looking back on his 50-year career and speaking frankly about comedy, cancel culture, and his future in stand-up.

The legendary comedian and actor is the focus of the upcoming Netflix documentary Being Eddie, directed by Angus Wall, which premieres on November 12.

The film traces Murphy’s journey from a teenage stand-up and Saturday Night Live cast member to a movie star with hits like Beverly Hills Cop, The Nutty Professor, and Shrek. It also features interviews with fellow comedians and stars including Jamie Foxx, Jerry Seinfeld, Dave Chappelle, Tracee Ellis Ross, and Chris Rock.

In a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, Murphy opened up about reconnecting with old collaborators, including director John Landis, who appears in the documentary, and the SNL team from his 2019 hosting return. He also talked about how he would approach a potential honorary Oscar and teased a reboot he’s eager to tackle, pending a finished script.

Murphy addressed the state of modern comedy, especially amid discussions of cancel culture. “I can’t think of a comedian that said a joke that made them get canceled. I feel like that whole canceled thing was just a moment in time where people were like, ‘Comics have to be careful what they say,'” he said.

He added that younger comedians are more fearless. “If you go into clubs, the comics are talking crazier than ever. They say whatever the f*** they want to say. It’s a generation that’s coming up now that’s defiant about that whole cancel culture s***: ‘F**** that cancel culture s***. Let the chips fall where they may.’ If I ever did it again, I would say what I wanted to say and do whatever I wanted to do. I’m not even thinking about getting canceled at 64, after 50 years in the business.”

Being Eddie offers fans a chance to see the highs, lows, and behind-the-scenes moments of one of comedy’s most iconic careers while giving Murphy a platform to reflect on his legacy and his bold approach to stand-up.

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