Eddie Murphy Regrets "Ignorant" Jokes About AIDS In 1980s Stand-up Routines

BY Erika Marie 4.3K Views
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Eddie Murphy, Paige Butler
The comedian chatted about what fans can expect from his return to the stage.

In 2020, the world will see Eddie Murphy return to the comedic stage as he embarks on a stand-up tour. The 58-year-old comedy icon may have a vault of unreleased songs that he's holding close to the chest, but he's ready to get back on stage, telling The New York Times that he regrets giving up his passion.

Murphy only has two stand-up specials to date, Delirious and Raw, both of which aired back in the 1980s. His controversial jokes found the comedian in the crosshairs of criticism, so when he reads about the comics who currently are the targets of Cancel Culture he said, "I went through all that stuff, so this is not scary." He did offer up an apology for his past jokes that he called "ignorant," specifically his quips regarding the AIDS epidemic when he talked about being afraid of catching the disease by kissing gay men.  

Fans will have to wait to see how controversial Murphy will be when he returns to the stage, but the public should expect for him give funny anecdotes about being a father of 10 children. "I now have a whole lifetime of experiences to draw upon," Murphy said. "There was a time when I was at the center of everything, what I was doing, and how funny I was and how popular. I’m not at the center. Now my kids are and everything revolves around them." He also added that he's not continuing on with his leather suit tradition. “Nah, man, you can’t wear a leather suit at 58,” he said.


About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.

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