Overview
- Murphy recalls that backstage he asked if the remarks would be funny, saying he aimed for humor with an edge rather than a purely confrontational tone.
- Onstage he said he initially declined to present because the Academy had not recognized Black performers, citing Hattie McDaniel, Sidney Poitier, and Louis Gossett Jr. as the only Black acting winners at the time.
- He says he expected major media attention the next day but found there were “barely any” headlines about the critique.
- Two years later, Denzel Washington became the next Black acting Oscar winner for Glory, a milestone often noted in the episode’s aftermath.
- Being Eddie uses the speech and its reception to frame a broader, career-spanning portrait with peers reflecting on Murphy’s influence and advocacy.