Eddie Murphy Steps Down as Host for the Oscars

No surprises here after the big controversy with Brett Ratner. Eddie Murphy is leaving the building.

If you haven’t been keeping up with the latest Oscar buzz it seems the entire entertainment industry is in quite a huff. Brett Ratner, director of the film Tower Heist and former producer for the upcoming Academy Awards, was relieved of duty after making quite a few abhorrent remarks. It seems only fitting that the man whom he had selected to be the host this year also step down in light of these recent actions.

Ratner released this letter of apology to the public:

Dear Colleagues,

Over the last few days, I’ve gotten a well-deserved earful from many of the people I admire most in this industry expressing their outrage and disappointment over the hurtful and stupid things I said in a number of recent media appearances. To them, and to everyone I’ve hurt and offended, I’d like to apologize publicly and unreservedly.

As difficult as the last few days have been for me, they cannot compare to the experience of any young man or woman who has been the target of offensive slurs or derogatory comments. And they pale in comparison to what any gay, lesbian, or transgender individual must deal with as they confront the many inequalities that continue to plague our world.

So many artists and craftspeople in our business are members of the LGBT community, and it pains me deeply that I may have hurt them. I should have known this all along, but at least I know it now: words do matter. Having love in your heart doesn’t count for much if what comes out of your mouth is ugly and bigoted. With this in mind, and to all those who understandably feel that apologies are not enough, please know that I will be taking real action over the coming weeks and months in an effort to do everything I can both professionally and personally to help stamp out the kind of thoughtless bigotry I’ve so foolishly perpetuated.

As a first step, I called Tom Sherak this morning and resigned as a producer of the 84th Academy Awards telecast. Being asked to help put on the Oscar show was the proudest moment of my career. But as painful as this may be for me, it would be worse if my association with the show were to be a distraction from the Academy and the high ideals it represents.

I am grateful to GLAAD for engaging me in a dialogue about what we can do together to increase awareness of the important and troubling issues this episode has raised and I look forward to working with them. I am incredibly lucky to have a career in this business that I love with all of my heart and to be able to work alongside so many of my heroes. I deeply regret my actions and I am determined to learn from this experience.

Sincerely,

Brett Ratner

At least he apologized right? Well Eddie Murphy has followed suit and taken leave of the Oscars. What does this mean? Do I get my boyhood wish of Billy Crystal returning to his former glory? Only time will tell.

Stay tuned with Stuff We Like for more Oscar news, movie reviews and stuff we like!

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