Eddie Murphy makes an epic reference to the Will Smith Oscars slap at the Golden Globes. Last year at the Academy Awards, one of the most infamous moments in Oscars history occurred when Will Smith got on the stage and slapped presenter Chris Rock in response to a G.I. Jane joke the comedian made about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, who lives with alopecia. Afterward, Smith returned to his seat and shouted at Rock, “keep my wife’s name out of your f–ing mouth!” In the months following the outburst, Smith has been nothing but apologetic, though the infamous slap has become a significant cultural moment and often the subject of parody and jokes.
During the recent Golden Globes Awards on NBC, Eddie Murphy was the latest to reference the infamous Will Smith Oscars slap.
While accepting the Cecil B. DeMille career achievement award, the accomplished actor and comedian ended his speech by offering a blueprint for making it in show business. Murphy shared his three secrets to success, starting with the standard “pay your taxes” and “mind your business” before unexpectedly shouting out “and keep Will Smith’s wife’s name out your f–ing mouth!” Read Murphy’s full comments and watch a clip of the particular moment below:
I have been doing this for a long time, so I can literally stand up here and keep saying thank you until they play the piano, but I am going to say something to all of the new dreamers and artists that are in the room tonight. I want to let you know that there is a definitive blueprint that you can follow to achieve success, prosperity, longevity and peace of mind. I followed it my whole career — it’s very simple. Just do these three things — pay your taxes, mind your business and keep Will Smith’s wife’s name out of your f–ing mouth!
What Did Eddie Murphy Mean By His Will Smith Reference?
Eddie Murphy’s Will Smith reference appears to be nothing more than a well-timed jab at one of the most infamous moments in awards show history, and some humorous advice to help aspiring comedians avoid getting slapped like Rock. Murphy is, after all, a comedian at heart, and as exemplified by his rise to fame through Saturday Night Live and his early stand-up career, he has a knack for making light of otherwise serious moments. Murphy surely meant no harm to Smith or Rock with the joke, saying he “loves both of them” shortly after his speech.
During the ceremony, Murphy wasn’t the only comedian on the Golden Globes stage to quip about the Oscars slap. Following a commercial break, host Jerrod Carmichael joked about presenting Smith “the Rock Hudson award for best portrayal of masculinity on television.” While many appreciated the moments of humor, Murphy and Carmichael’s references sparked divided reactions online from those who feel that all the Will Smith jokes are becoming worn out and stale.
Every Upcoming Will Smith Project
It’s been almost a year since the Oscars slap occurred and many, including Smith, are looking to put the unfortunate incident behind them and move on. The status of many of Smith’s projects, including Bad Boys 4, Bright 2, The Council, I am Legend 2, and Fast and Loose, have been put into question as a result of the slap. However, one of them has trudged forward despite the controversy. Will Smith’s new movie Emancipation, a moving slavery drama that many feel was snubbed by the Golden Globes, is currently streaming on Apple TV+.
