Bill Cosby’s spokesperson slammed Eddie Murphy as a “Hollywood slave” who betrayed African-Americans and “sold himself” after the comedian mocked the now-disgraced and incarcerated comedian during his return to Saturday Night Live.
By Tobi Akingbade
Evening Standard
December 23, 2019
Cosby, 82, is currently serving a three to 10-year prison sentence in a Pennsylvania facility after he was convicted of aggravated indecent assault last year.
Following Murphy's joke, Andrew Wyatt, Cosby’s publicist who was seen at the comedian’s side during his trial, released a statement accusing Murphy of attempting to gain approval from a white audience.
Wyatt said Murphy and other black comics owe their careers to Cosby and was not impressed by the joke he made on Saturday (December 21).
The 58-year-old had told viewers: “I actually have 10 kids now. 11 if you count Kevin Hart.
“I love Kevin Hart so much but my kids are my whole life now.
“And if you would have told me 30 years ago that I would be this boring stay-at-home father of 10 house dad, and Bill Cosby would be in prison, I would have took that bet. Who is America’s dad now?’”
The joke appeared to be a reference to his 1987 stand-up film, Eddie Murphy Raw, where he revealed that Cosby “chastised” him for his sweary jokes and slammed him as a father.
Responding to the monologue, Cosby’s publicist shared a a lengthy response on Instagram which read: “Mr. Cosby became the first Black to win an Emmy for his role in I Spy and Mr. Cosby broke colour barriers in the Entertainment Industry, so that Blacks like Eddie Murphy, Dave Chappell, Kevin Hart and et al., could have an opportunity to showcase their talents for many generations to come.
“It is sad that Mr. Murphy would take this glorious moment of returning to SNL and make disparaging remarks against Mr. Cosby. One would think that Mr. Murphy was given his freedom to leave the plantation, so that he could make his own decisions; but he decided to sell himself back to being a Hollywood Slave.
“Stepin Fetchit plus cooning equals the destruction of Black Men in Hollywood. Remember, Mr. Murphy, that Bill Cosby became legendary because he used comedy to humanise all races, religions and genders; but your attacking Mr. Cosby helps you embark on just becoming clickbait.
“Hopefully, you will be amenable to having a meeting of the minds conversation, in order to discuss how we can use our collective platforms to enhance Black people rather than bringing all of us down together.”
He added the hashtags: “#NotFunnySNL #SNL #FarFromFinished #FreeBillCosby #BillCosby.”
Standard Online has contacted Murphy's representative for comment.
While Cobsy’s camp may not have been fans of Murphy’s jokes, his return to SNL - after 35 years away from the show - was well received and gained the programme its highest viewing figures in two years.
The episode – also featuring Chris Rock, Tracy Morgan and Dave Chappelle – had on average 9.921 million viewers, which was the best audience since Melissa McCarthy’s series finale in May 2017, which generated 10.382 million viewers.
Cosby lost an appeal against his sexual assault conviction this month, with a Pennsylvania appeals court upholding the conviction after his team argued the trial court ruled incorrectly in eight decisions.
EDITOR’S NOTE: How about a new weekly TV series called “The New Cosby Show” which focuses on the lives of Cosby and his new family of fellow convicts in prison? “The New Cosby Show” would most likely be a mega hit.
3 comments:
How about a prison variety show. "What's my Crime?"
I think you're on to something Howie. Perhaps this new show could also focus on some of the women he preyed on as well. Wouldn't that be a hoot!
Dave, the title of that TV series could be "Women Who Were Raped By America's Dad." The show would feature one victim each wee. Since 60 women have accused Cosby of raping the, the show would be able to run for 14 months.
But I like a show which focuses on the lives of Cosby and his new family of fellow convicts in prison better. Can't you just see one scene in which a young inmate gets the red ass from an older convict.
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