What did Eddie Murphy say about the jokes SNL made about him?

Eddie Murphy said he felt betrayed by SNL for "calling me a falling star" and mocking his career after he left the show.

How did David Spade's joke about Eddie Murphy's film "Vampire in Brooklyn" affect him?

The joke, where Spade referred to Murphy as "a falling star," deeply hurt Murphy's feelings and led him to avoid SNL for years.

How did Eddie Murphy's relationship with SNL change over time?

After years of avoiding the show, Murphy eventually returned to host SNL in 2019 and appeared at the show's 50th anniversary special, expressing a sense of pride and nostalgia for being part of the "American institution."

Home / Arts and Entertainment / Eddie Murphy Reflects on Decades-Old SNL Feud: "They Called Me a Falling Star"

Eddie Murphy Reflects on Decades-Old SNL Feud: "They Called Me a Falling Star"

12 Nov, 2025

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Summary

Eddie Murphy felt betrayed by SNL for mocking his career
David Spade made a joke about Murphy's film "Vampire in Brooklyn"
Murphy didn't return to SNL for years after the incident

Eddie Murphy Reflects on Decades-Old SNL Feud: "They Called Me a Falling Star"

In a new Netflix documentary, renowned comedian Eddie Murphy, 64, is reflecting on his longstanding feud with the iconic sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live. Murphy, who was a cast member on SNL from 1980 to 1984, felt betrayed by the series for mocking his career after he left the show.

"It's like your alma mater taking a shot at you. At my career, not how funny I was," Murphy said in the documentary. "Called me a falling star." He explained that during his time on SNL, any joke about a former cast member's career would be instantly rejected, but that policy seemed to change after he departed.

Years later, in 1995, fellow comedian David Spade made a joke about Murphy and his film "Vampire in Brooklyn," which was a box office bomb at the time but is now considered a cult classic. Spade held up a photo of Murphy on his "Spade in America" segment and said, "Look, children, it's a falling star. Make a wish." This jab deeply hurt Murphy's feelings.