Eddie Murphy, the comedic actor who grew up in Roosevelt, accepted the Cecil B. DeMille Award – and made a joke referencing “the slap” from last year’s Oscars – at the 80th Golden Globes on Tuesday.
In his acceptance speech, Murphy, who says he has been in show business for 46 years, thanked the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, his family, friends, and colleagues. He then had some advice for up-and-coming artists:
“Just do these three things: Pay your taxes. Mind your business. And keep Will Smith’s wife’s name out of your [expletive] mouth,” he said, met with laughter from the audience.
At the 2022 Academy Awards, actor Will Smith infamously stormed on stage, slapped comedian Chris Rock, sat back down, and shouted “Keep my wife’s name out of your [expletive] mouth,” after Rock joked about his wife’s hair.
Now “the slap heard around the world” has become the running joke in Hollywood, apparent by Murphy’s quip at the end of his acceptance speech for the honorary award.
Murphy has been nominated for a Globe six times before, winning once, for his performance in 2006’s “Dreamgirls.” His most recent nomination was for best actor in a comedy or musical for 2019’s “Dolemite is My Name.” Previous honorees for the Cecil B. DeMille Award include Tom Hanks, Oprah Winfrey and Meryl Streep.
-With Associated Press
