Eddie Murphy was one of many former Saturday Night Live stars who came back to the show for the 40th anniversary special on Sunday. This was notable as it was Eddie’s first return to SNL in 30 years. As part of his return, Murphy was asked by writer Steve Higgins to play Bill Cosby in a Jeopardy sketch. The bit would show Cosby mixing drinks for the “Potent Potables” category, with the pretense that it was taped prior to the news breaking that Cosby regularly drugged and raped women. According to SNL staple Norm McDonald, Murphy refused to play Cosby, even after multiple other people tried to convince him. That segment was ultimately performed by Kenan Thompson. Here’s a summary, thanks to Rolling Stone:
As Macdonald revealed on Twitter, that cameo was originally written for Murphy, who – after a few days of being pursued by Macdonald, Michaels and even director Brett Ratner (the latter serving as an intermediary for the comic) – decided not to appear in the sketch.
“Murphy knew the laughs would bring the house down. Eddie Murphy knows what will work on SNL better than anyone. Eddie decides the laughs are not worth it. He will not kick a man when he is down,” Macdonald wrote. “Eddie Murphy, I realize, is not like the rest of us. Eddie does not need the laughs. Eddie Murphy is the coolest, a rock star even in a room with actual rock stars.”
The phrase “kick a man while he is down” is McDonald’s interpretation of Murphy’s refusal to play Cosby. It’s possible that Murphy never said this, or that his reason for not playing Cosby was just to avoid controversy. (Update: as many of you have pointed out, Murphy may have refused due to the sensitive subject matter.) I don’t know why I’m giving Murphy the benefit of the doubt, it’s probably about some misplaced respect for Cosby. We know now that Cosby is an unapologetic rapist who committed horrendous crimes. Cosby’s fortune was achieved with a false nice guy persona which also helped him get away with violating countless women for decades. Now he’s using his wealth to attack his victims. He’s not “down,” he just in a defensive stance. The fact that he issued a statement about this story speaks volumes. Cosby said “I am very appreciative of Eddie and I applaud his actions.” Bill Cosby should STFU. Getting made fun of on television is absolutely nothing compared to what he inflicted on an average night, and yet somehow he’s still trying to play the victim.
Photo credit: WENN.com
Sooo…Eddie Murphy has never once cracked a Joke about Anthony Wiener or Bill Clinton…riiiiggghht?
Not a Murphy fan, but while Clinton and Weiner are scumbags, no one has accused them of rape. This is a different category. I don’t know why Murphy refused, but am bewildered by SNL writers thinking rape is a joke.
I think Norm MacDonald is a little delusional, saying they knew a Cosby bit “would bring the house down” and seems to speculating about why or why not Eddie wouldn’t play him.
What’s really baffling to me is why Cosby is even speaking at this point. I know he sees this as a supportive move by Eddie but he really needs to STFU.
Then Norm knows that SNL is using a terrible situation for ratings and laughs and asking one of the only African-American actors on the show to portray it. Lovely.
I think Eddie Murphy was right not to mock Bill Cosby. He grew up at a time when Bill Cosby and Richard Pryor were the two prominent black male comedians. I am sure the Cosby debacle is painful and shameful for him.
But Bill Cosby should shut up. Bill still doesn’t realize that his opinion of a person or issue is now worthless. Bill is a narcissistic ahole
I have to say that you said this so well. Plus one.
Murphy had his OWN pervy sex scandal, so it’s only likely that he’d protect someone with another pervy sex scandal.
What’s sad is I can’t remember a comedian who people were more eager to see again — and he just doesn’t give a damn.
Or he’s too chickens**t.
It’s sad to see 2 comedy legends who have such weak character.
Or maybe money exchanged hands.
Cos has paid off a lot of people.
That’s what I immediately thought too. He had his own share of scandal. His brother, Charlie Murphy also said that Eddie Murphy also has always been very sensitive and sympathetic; more so than himself or others around him. Just a thought.
Who is giving Eddie Murphy career advice? He makes some truly baffling decisions. Now is the time for a great comeback! He should just be real. Who cares about protecting creepy rapist Cosby?
I’m more curious as to why writers thought rape accusations were something to make jokes out of.
Exactly. Proud of Murphy for not doing it for whatever reasons. No humor in drugging women and rape.
I don’t think they were trying to make fun of the women. I never took it that way. I think SNL was absolutely calling out Bill Cosby for his behavior and how lightly Bill and much of the media took it for such a long time. One more dig at Cosby. I hope none of the women were hurt by the joke. I don’t really care why Murphy chose not to do it but I strongly suspect it had nothing to do with Cosby and more to do with his relationship with SNL.
Right…because joking about rape is a great career advice, ugh!!
Not just that, but how racist is it to invite him back and then push him to take on that kind of role? That’s what they offer him after all those years?
It wasn’t the only role they offered him, it was just ONE skit–and he ended up making a cameo on the special anyway, just not impersonating Cosby.
The fall-out between Murphy and SNL happened a long time ago after David Spade made a comment in the early 90s about Murphy being a “falling star”.
Eddie took that really personally and refused to do any guest spots on SNL for decades after that.
Maybe not, but it was one of the roles, and it’s not right. Why go there at all? Rape is not a skit, and why decide that one of the few African-American actors appearing should take on the role of a rapist as a comedy? SNL sucks.
I agree with you, Jenn that it probably wasn’t a wise move on their part.
This is why there needs to be more women writers and producers!
I don’t see anything wrong with a rapist being publically mocked. In fact, I’d be really happy to see Cosby get dragged through some of that mud he slings at his victims. Then again, it could have been the content of the skit that was offensive to the victims and not just Cosby. If that’s the case, it was a good move. I’d like to see a skit perhaps about his narcissism. Like, Cosby taking every little thing to be a sign of support… done right it could be comical while calling out Cosby for being the psychopath that he is. Timely comedic skits done right bring a lot of awareness to important topics. That is one of SNL’s legacies- and one that they do get right every now and then.
I was glad they called out Cosby. However, as I think about it again, the way they portrayed the other characters were jokes rather than how I think they really are. Is Sean Connery really such a jerk? Burt Reynolds was being portrayed more as one of the characters he plays. So could it be interpreted that the way Cosby was being portrayed isn’t how he really is? Possibly. That isn’t how I took it but someone might. Comedy is tough though. It’s a razor’s edge. I agree that a skit devoted just to Cosby might have been better but the 40th anniversary episode probably wasn’t the place to do it. Nonetheless, I thought it was a strong skit and I was glad Cosby was mocked. He deserved it. And since he happens to be black, he was going to be played by a black actor. I don’t see the racism in that but maybe I’m missing something.
Thank God @Senaber, Lucinda and Crocuta. SNL wasn’t making fun of the rape, they were making fun of an accused rapist and kudos to Kenan Thompson for having the balls to do so!
Between this and the fact that you acted like performing and writing something for SNL was beneath you and acting a fool up on that stage during the anniversary show (and running out on Scary Spice while she was preganant with your baby) and NORBIT, I have had enough of Eddie Murphy, he reached his peak 30-ish years ago and has gotten too full of himself.
Although Cosby deserves all the metaphorical kicking, I understand why Eddie wouldn’t want to do it. Celebrities often refuse to take sides in other people’s controversies and I think they’re right. Murphy has nothing to do with Cosby, why get involved?
Edit to add: I don’t know how exactly the scene was supposed to play. Making fun of Cosby could also look like making fun of his victims, which is much much worse.
Yes, I don’t think Eddie’s refusal to play Cosby is indicative of his support for Cosby at all. Maybe it is, but I prefer to think of it they way you put it.
I don’t think anyone can assume what the motivation was for turning down the skit. Murphy didn’t do anything but an awkward stage-bow. Did they offer the opportunity for other skits, when he turned this down, or did he not want to play at all?
One thing is certain, Bill Cosby is a dick for capitalizing on the situation. And I don’t think it’s helpful to Eddie.
Yeah ok but wouldn’t it have been great if he said “out of respect to the victims and the sensitive subject matter, I’m not going to do the bit”?
It’s about him supporting Cosby and I’m surprised anyone could take it any other way, especially because these two men have had a friendship for quite sometime now.
It was an indirect way of throwing support to Cosby-at least that’s how I took it, and how Bill Cosby took it as well.
I don’t know anything about Cosby and Eddie’s relationship, thanks for clarifying. I gave Eddie too much credit, and stand corrected. It’s depressing and gross.
Oh I get it, Esmom! I think Murphy is f*cking brills and I’d love for him to be the kind of respectful dude that takes the high road but it’s just not the case here.
“According to Macdonald, he didn’t want to further shame Cosby, public enemy No. 1 on the Internet, who already faces a litany of sexual assault allegations for drugging and raping dozens of women.”
So Murphy has tons of feels for poor Cosby and all the “shame” he’s suffering through because these terrible women are trying to ruin his career. Who cares about the shame that comes from being drugged and raped while you’re unconscious though. Ugh.
Eddie and Cosby were never friends, and they had a well known beef with each other back in the 80’s-90’s. I don’t know where you got that they were friends, but Cosby always criticized Murphy for his stand up’s and Eddie had some choice words for Cosby in retaliation.
I think it’s probably more complicated than that, kitten. Murphy hadn’t been back on that show in years, and the subject matter was a flaming hot potato, for a guy who lost his edge somewhere along the path.
Whether it’s more complicated than that or not, neither you or I know, Kiddo. His actions lead me to think that he passed on the skit out of respect to a comedian who was a revolutionary in the 1970s, a man who paved the way for himself and other black comedians down the line.
Why is that hard to believe?
I think if he was scared of the subject matter, it wouldn’t have been a last-minute decision to back out. Media outlets were hyping Murphy’s return way before he decided to back out of the skit. So was the reason he backed out because he didn’t like the part that he was given? Maybe he wanted a better role?
Maybe he just wanted to avoid the controversy, but I tend to think McDonald was being truthful when he said that Eddie didn’t want to “kick a man when he’s down”. Murphy never came out and clarified one way or another so we’ll never know. Would have been great if he made a public statement saying the reason why he backed out was out of respect to the sensitive subject matter, though, instead of letting Cosby use his actions to say “Look, Eddie Muphy supports me.”
@TruthSF-Yes they criticized each other but Murphy has cited numerous times that Richard Prior and Bill Cosby were his two greatest influences. So maybe “friends” is the wrong word but they absolutely had a mutual admiration.
I guess I got the idea that they were friends from Eddie’s stand-up where he said that Cosby called him to tell him to stop using vulgar language in his stand-up. Mortal enemies don’t usually pick up the phone to chat with each other.
There’s a solidarity that exists in the black community, especially among African-American comedians, who still see Cosby as an icon.
They don’t have to support Cosby but to ridicule or condemn him would be frowned upon.
The only place that Cosby will ever be judged is the court of public opinion.
SNL should have realized what a difficult situation they were putting Murphy into.
Cosby didn’t waste any time exploiting Murphy’s refusal to perform the skit and publicly portraying it as a show of support.
I think it boils down to fear and discomfort, more than any real dedication to Cosby. And I think no comedian wants to appear as anything but fearless.
I think the skit would have fallen like a lead balloon.
Almost the entire show did, for me, at least. I think Murphy made the right decision on that skit, but his appearance of doing nothing except leading into commercial was woefully uncomfortable and WTF-ish on its own .
@Kitten, reply to your first comment to me:
“Yeah ok but wouldn’t it have been great if he said “out of respect to the victims and the sensitive subject matter, I’m not going to do the bit”?”
This would be the right thing to do, yes, but it would mean taking sides. If Murphy just does not want to get involved, he cannot do even that. The word “victim” implies Cosby did the deed. Don’t get me wrong, I agree with you and I don’t believe he’s innocent, I just understand why Eddie would want to stay out of it.
I agree with Kiddo above: Cosby definitely understood this as a sign of support and is trying to sell it to the public, as if Eddie’s opinion on the subject matters in any way.
@Crocuta-Yeah absolutely. It could be that Murphy didn’t want to get involved at all, in any capacity. But by not clarifying, he “allowed” Cosby to use his words for support. Whether he wanted to avoid the politics and controversy doesn’t really matter at this point because the end result comes across as Murphy supporting him.
@Crocuta: But that’s just the very point… He should “take sides.” We all should take the side of supporting the rights and feelings of the victims and standing against those who perpetrate these crimes and further cause damage to the victims by invalidating them. Avoiding conflict by remaining “neutral” in this situation makes one complicit.
@Kitten Murphy didn’t say ANY of this! This is Norm MacDonald’s interpretation of what Eddie was feeling. You don’t know what went on in his head or during their discussions. Norm MacDonald didn’t quote him. He paraphrased in the paraphrasiest non-communicative form there is: Twitter. Clearly Murphy was against it from the start, then ambivalent, then stuck to his guns in the end. (Who knows, maybe his gf/wife influenced his decision as well.) Until Murphy issues a statement, I’m not calling him anything but “wise.”
@Pinky-Oh I know he didn’t say anything about it and that this is all Norm McDonald’s interpretation, but this is celeb gossip–speculation is kind of what we do around here. I just tend to believe Norm McDonald’s assessment of Eddie’s words.
Note that Murphy hasn’t said anything to contradict McDonald’s version of events.
…and Eddie Murphy’s silence speaks volumes to me.
*shrugs*
Eddie probably doesn’t want his own secrets dug up.
As for Cosby… Take it away, Chappelle: http://31.media.tumblr.com/436fe3da17b0e357e4ddf5db8116454a/tumblr_mpnsntBO2D1st3xfjo1_r1_500.gif
This is a good point, Abbott, o ye wise one!
What secrets? Johnny Gill? The incident with the transexual? Mel B?
After Tina Fey and Amy Poehler made their jokes about Cosby, I felt unsure that joking about this serious matter was the right thing to do. Some posters made very good arguments as to why it was good to publicly call him out, and I certainly see their point. But even though I have absolutely no sympathy for Cosby and think he belongs in jail, I still don’t blame Murphy for refusing to do the skit. It still makes me cringe to joke about rape. It isn’t funny. But I hate the fact that Cosby sees it as an act of support.
I think he sees it as an act of support because it WAS an act of support on Eddie Murphy’s part.
Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. Disappointing. I was hoping he just thought it was inappropriate to joke about rape. But sometimes I assume too much.
idk about everybody else, but when Buress made a comment/joke in his standup, THAT’S when I started seeing so much coverage. Before then, it was so close to being swept under the rug – AGAIN.
Good point.
Yes, but the joke was different. He was talking about how hypocritical Cosby was criticizing African American youth apparel and attitudes when he drugs and rapes women. The Jeopardy sketch was a joke about the drugging of the drink and rape and that just shouldn’t be a funny topic to me.
I know there are a lot of people who feel that media reputation ruining is an appropriate punishment for Cosby, or maybe the only one left- which unfortunately seems to be the case. Not sure I would agree with that, as I wish there was a better more just venue and not all the innuendo that comes out this way. Still I really don’t think we should trivialize through comedy the actual events like the drugging and rape, that just seems dirty to me.
@GNAT I don’t buy what Kitten is saying. He/she is just making assumptions for the sake of righteous indignation. He/she has no more information or insight into what happened behind the scenes than you or I, and therefore his/her opinion is no more valid than yours or mine.
Oh Pinky… “Righteous indignation” is pretty dramatic.
I don’t think Eddie Murphy is some terrible person because he supports Cosby. I like Eddie Murphy a lot and I always will. I’m simply saying that I believe he supports Cosby. FTR, I did say “I think” in the beginning of my reply to GNAT. You’re absolutely right that I’ll never know what motivated Murphy to back out (neither will you BTW) but your opinion is as valid as mine on the matter, unless you have some insider info that you’d like to share.
Cosby was an idol for Murphy. Nobody wants to believe that their idol did some terrible things. But to me there’s still a level of denial on Murphy’s part that is unfair to the victims.
Maybe Murphy will come out and clarify what happened? That would be great. I would love him to say that he backed out of the skit because he doesn’t find rape to be funny and that it had nothing to do with his feelings about Bill Cosby one way or the other.
@Kitten Apologies. You’re right. Neither of us knows. Truce?
Of course no one knows how this played out, but, how do you explain Cosby feeling emboldened enough to issue a statement “applauding him for his actions” if he wasn’t confident Murphy would not call him out? Do you think Cosby just took advantage of Murphys silence, or was there some other kind of conversation or understanding between the two of them? KWIM?
Truce, Pinky! 🙂
I do, I “buy” what Kitten is saying and I fully support it. Hehe not trying to stir anything up just want to let you guys know that I’m on the side of Kitte, she has made valid, rational points.
Oh you guys. Maybe, just maybe, he declined because he has this wild notion that there’s nothing comical about rape?
I would LOVE to believe that, I really would. But I have a hard time believing that’s the case.
I don’t know what motivated Murphy, but how did the SNL writers think a good way to celebrate an anniversary is by making fun of rape? How is that remotely funny?
Out of all the funny skit they could have him do, they gave him THAT? WTF is wrong with Steve Higgins is what we should be asking.
You guys are making a good point and I will update with that, thanks!
Not only that, but it’s quite offensive to ask the African-American guy to take on the role of the guy accused of rape. That’s the material they give him when he returns? Here’s this celebrated African-American comic on a serious downfall from horrible accusations. Yo, Murphy, YOU’RE a celebrated African-American comic. How about you take part in a skit pretending to be him that will make fun of the accusations?
I agree with other posters. Why are they now expecting all these folks, many of them black, to comment on this?
That being said, I would say something like ‘no comment’, because I wouldn’t ever want it to seem like I condone his monstrous actions.
When comics make fun of Cosby, I think that’s what they’re doing. They’re not making rape jokes, they’re making Cosby jokes. They are turning him into a punch line because not only is he a rapist (unproven but yeah, we pretty much know for sure) but because of his refusal to answer to the charges. And so that is the least of what he deserves.
The Jeopardy Cosby bit isn’t a ‘bring the house down’ piece and Murphy was within his rights not to want to do it for whatever reason it was. I’m a semi-regular watcher of SNL and I’m glad they made it to 40 but the thing about anniversaries and such is you can highlight the 40% funny and ignore the 60% crap.
As for Bill Cosby, he again is the disturbing part of this story. Thanking Eddie Murphy publicly makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up. Like he’s using it as public…. I don’t know if vindication is the right word, but ‘hey look, Eddie thinks I’m okay’. I can’t even think of him without ew, ew, ew, eeewwwww.
Yeah , it was a resurrection of an old skit.
That being said, instead of asking Cosby or Murphy or Norm McDonald how they feel about it, I wish we could hear from the victims. How do THEY feel about the skit?
Is it kicking a man down so much as it is not wanting to be associated, at all, with Cosb? That is the perception of this I want to walk away with, that he didn’t do it because he too thinks Bill is a vile Rapist and doesn’t want to play that man, even for laughs, because he’s a disgusting pig.
One thing you all seen to be forgetting: Eddie did a spot on, bring-down-the-house impersonation of Cosby on SNL during his tenure, and he did it often. He was famous for it, so asking him to do this makes perfect sense, not some random racist notion that “well, he’s black too.” Him not doing it is understandable. He also called out Cos in his stand up for years, for his chastising other black comics for language, the poundcake speech, etc., so Cos should know that Eddie is NOT his fan. I’m guessing Eddie thought the way most of us do: it’s too close to joking about rape, even though Cos is the butt of the joke. And I sooooooo hope Eddie responds to Cos’ painfully tone deaf comment on the subject.
He incorporated a Cosby impersonation into his stand-up act too and it was amazing.
And yeah, Cosby also went after Murphy a few times by calling him out for cursing in his stand-up. But if Murphy was scared of the subject matter, then WHY would he change his mind at the last second? He knew for weeks leading up to it what the punch-line was.
+1.
I didn’t know that, but his writing bits in his own act about Cosby that annoyed him are not the same as being asked to portray an accused rapist doing the very thing- drugging drinks- that hurt women as though it’s a comedy on an anniversary special. This is on SNL. Were they asking any of the people to perform as others who have done dumb things this year? Why treat rape as though it’s a comedy subject?
I understand comedians make jokes about everything, but no matter how you stand on these events it is just too large and sad to joke about in my opinion. Either Cosby is a heinous man who committed rape on numerous women and do to statute of limitation circumstances will never be prosecuted and convicted as he should be or Cosby is being unjustly accused of horrendous crimes and will never get his chance to prove his innocence in any way. I don’t see how that can be funny either way, just sad and tragic. The Keenan impersonation wasn’t funny only uncomfortable because unpunished sexual assault and rape aren’t funny.
I applaud Eddie Murphy for his decision, because either way you believe it was the classy and appropriate thing to do. Funny I never think of classy and appropriate with Eddie Murphy, but I do in this case. As for if Eddie believes in Cosby, I don’t know Cosby or Eddie and I think if you did know someone in a certain way you would find it hard to think they are guilty of something so heinous. Plus I just don’t think it matters in this case what Eddie personally believes. His actions are what count.
Honestly I don’t understand why Hollywood is so suddenly eager to make fun of rape when I’ve nerver heard jokes about Polanski or jokes how about Woody Allen. I don’t know why Murphy refused to do that skit and I hope Cosby will pay for what he has done but I struggle to understand how making fun of this tragic situation is considered “brave” and “forward”.
The joke was lame .
Eddie has never stated he supports Cosby.Cosby is delusional enough to think that anybody who doesn’t call him a rapist supports him.Why isn’t releasing a ststement saying the two new accusers are lying about him drugging and raping them.I just watched them on CNN last night.Where is his statement about them?
+1.
You know what, though? The fact that EDDIE remains silent about this and isn’t refuting Cosby’s statement makes me feel weird about Eddie Murphy. :-/ I wish Murphy would say that it had nothing to do with him “respecting” or “supporting” Cosby, but he hasn’t. 🙁
Eddie Murphy made fun of him years ago when Cosby called him to talk about his language on stage.
Cosby even did it to Jon Stewart on The Daily Show, again with the language.
Like Hannibal said, ” you could have gotten away with a lot of F Bombs if you didn’t rape so much.”
It’s so hard for him to look at himself so he says, don’t use foul language, pick up your pants because he’s such a piece of sh-t and he can’t face it.
Who knows what Murphy was thinking since he hasn’t spoken directly of the situation, but maybe the skit, which takes on a serious situation, wasn’t actually funny in terms of content. You head into dangerous territory when you take on something like this, and and then you fail to provide the laughs for it or people don’t see the humour in what you’re trying to do. We also live in different times now — I’m actually wondering how a skit about something like this would fly. I don’t even know what the content of the skit would have been, and I’m like “um…I don’t know….the jokes could go in the wrong direction (onto the victims, rather than Bill Cosby himself), even if that isn’t the intent.” I’m also having difficulty trying to figure out how you would make a skit about the actual situation since it’s such an odd and gross one.
I also think its lame how all the hardcore feminist celebitches posting are jumping on the “bill is a rapist” bandwagon without any proof. Team bill! And unless u ladies know for sure bill did it, why don’t you stfu
Unless you have proof he didn’t…then why don’t YOU STFU?
20+ accusers over the span of four decades is all the proof I need.
I love the random trollers that are getting through lately.
Such delusional.
Hahaha you took the words right out of my mouth, Suzanne:-)
I’m sorry but wow….reading these comments… What chicks are calling bill… Its DISGUSTING. what ignorant lame ladies posting on this site. And this coming from a 6 year fan of the site. Really disgusting and ignorant. Shame on all of you posters.
Who are you to ‘shame’ everybody?? SHAME on you for being so superior toward others.
How quickly Crosby has a comment on Murphy’s not dissing him…yet the dozens of allegations go without so much as a denial from him! If he was innocent…wouldn’t he be shouting it from the roof tops? To think people gave him a standing ovation at some of his latest performances. People are like sheep….led to the slaughter. DUMB.
Where there is smoke…there generally is fire PEOPLE. Wake up…this man is NOT what you were led to believe all those years. He’s a freaking pervert.
I remember years ago Eddie has some weird situation with a cross dressing “working person”. His version is that he was offering a ride because every celebrity is out three o’clock in the morning offering strangers rides.
This is when Eddie was to cool to barely talk during interviews at the height of his fame. Boy was Eddie talking after that came out. He was downright gregarious with the reporters when he tried to explain his excursion.
Eddie’s looking after Eddie in this situation because I’m sure he would like people to forget this piece of history. I’m shock no one has brought this up.
Killer awesome post CB.
Important topic, thank you so much. <3
Oh Billy Boy – shut up already. My gawd, talk about a complete narcissistic, unevolved human being
Eddie Murphy is a pu**y…..he wants to be politically correct..obviously he has never met one of Cosby’s many victims..
Cosby deserves to rot in jail. However, it does piss me off that making a Bill Cosby rape joke has somehow become a litmus test for black comedians. 1) The joke wasn’t funny. Sure, comedy can bring attention to issues, but the only thing that Cosby joke (and most others) did was gain laughs at the expense of the victims. It didn’t ridicule him, it just took what turned out to be a horrifying experience for women (accepting a drink from Cosby) into a passing laugh. If you want to skewer him, have a bumbling Cosby try and fail miserably to explain his actions. Don’t turn the experience into a punchline, turn the man into one. Go after his bumbling public responses or his previous holier than thou attitude. That sketch didn’t do that.
2) The same isn’t expected of white comedians/actors. Hell, SNL could have really went for it and had a panel featuring Woody Allen, Stephen Collins, Roman Polanski, Cosby, and R. Kelly and just skewered this guys while making a statement on public perception. Did it? Nope.
Tl;dr: Let’s mock Cosby, but i do take issue with the fact that most jokes have basically been “Let’s recount the events that led up to your rape” and then laugh.
Give their history (Cosby/Murphy ) the only rational conclusion I can reach is EM didn’t want to joke about rape least his own past get druged up.
I don’t want to believe the Cosby accusations. Count me as incredulous. I don’t believe that every single woman making this claim is on the up and up. But I also don’t believe that every single woman making this claim is lying.
Will never believe or look at him the same way…..I’m disgusted. Both with him and with whichever of the accusers are false as well.
I’ve been in shock for such a long time, but now I over it, I can say unreservedly that Bill Cosby deserves hell for the rest of his life and the one after that.
No, you nasty old crustacean, YOU ‘applaud’ Murphy’s LACK of action. I suspect that Murphy is your partner in slime.