*It was revealed recently that Eddie Murphy refused repeated requests to impersonate Bill Cosby during a sketch on the all-star “Saturday Night Live” 40th anniversary special on Sunday…and Cos has responded.
Former cast member Norm Macdonald spent two hours and over 100 tweets detailing his experience from the live reunion, including the attempt to recruit Murphy to play Cosby for the “Celebrity Jeopardy” sketch.
At the tail end of the sketch – which reintroduced Darrell Hammond as Sean Connery, Will Ferrell as Alex Trebek and Macdonald as Burt Reynolds – a Video Daily Double appeared in the Potent Potables category. Current SNL cast member Kenan Thompson played Cosby revealing his cocktail recipe, a nod to the multiple sexual assault allegations against the comedian.
Macdonald tweeted that the 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.”
In a statement to NBC News, Cosby said he was pleased Murphy turned down the sketch. “I am very appreciative of Eddie and I applaud his actions,” Cosby said through a spokesperson.
Watch the sketch below:
Cosby has been accused of sexual assault by more than 20 women. Cosby has never been charged and, through lawyers, he has denied the allegations.
We Publish News 24/7. Don’t Miss A Story. Click HERE to SUBSCRIBE to Our Newsletter Now!
