Eddie Murphy On What Robin Williams Told Him Before Oscars Speech Calling Out Academy For Lack Of Recognition Of Black Actors: “Why Go There?”

Eddie Murphy is recalling his 1988 Oscars speech, in which he called out the Academy for its lack of recognition of Black actors, and what Robin Williams told him before he took the stage.

In a new interview, Murphy recalled presenting at the Oscars, where he presented the Best Picture category.

“I remember being with Robin Williams backstage. I was like, ‘I’m gonna say this.’ And he goes to me, like, ‘But why go there?’” Murphy told Entertainment Weekly.

He continued, “I was like, ‘Oh, you don’t think it’s funny?’ It was more, is it funny? Rather than it’s controversial. I was trying to be funny and say a little something, but be funny too. Have a little edge to what I said.”

Murphy noted that when he made the speech, he “wasn’t thinking of the ramifications of it,” adding, “I was just trying to…