Lizzo Details Why Watching Eddie Murphy In "The Nutty Professor" Made Her "Sad"

BY Erika Marie 3.9K Views
Link Copied to Clipboard!
Matt Winkelmeyer / Staff / Getty Images
Lizzo, Eddie Murphy
The classic film followed the story of an overweight professor who struggled with self-image and it hit a little too close to home for the singer.

Throughout her career, Lizzo has been a leading force in body acceptance. She has faced opposition from the public and the industry in regards to her weight, but Lizzo has managed to take that negativity and turned it into motivation to become the award-winning international superstar that she is. The 33-year-old multi-hyphenate entertainer recently sat down with Variety for a cover story and during the discussion, Lizzo spoke candidly about representation in Hollywood. She mentioned her reaction to seeing Eddie Murphy don fat-suits for several films, including The Nutty Professor.

"It's funny, because I’m the biggest Eddie Murphy fan of all time," Lizzo said. "But he definitely had a collection of fat-suit movies that people would be laughing at, but I would feel sad."

Dimitrios Kambouris / Staff / Getty Images

"Not because I felt like, ‘Oh, my gosh — that’s me.’ But I had this empathy for Professor Klump [in The Nutty Professor]," she added. "Like, the scene where he opens his drawer and there are all these candies and M&Ms in his desk? I could literally cry right now thinking about it. People around me were laughing, but I hide food, too. I feel him. I feel sympathy and empathy for him.”

Lizzo also mentioned that she did audition for the role of Ursula in the live-action adaptation of Disney's The Little Mermaid, but eventually lost out to Melissa McCarthy. "But you know, I’m fine as hell. That has nothing to do with Ursula, but I was down to make Ursula a THOT, shaking ass."

Maybe she'll fulfill her THOT Ursula dreams one day. Check out the trailer for Murphy's hit 1990s film The Nutty Professor below.

[via]


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.

Comments 8
Page was generated in 1.6359620094299