Eddie Murphy Recalls Bizarre Proposition from Yul Brynner in the 80s

In the new Netflix documentary "Being Eddie," comedian Eddie Murphy shares a surprising story from his early days of fame in the 1980s. According to Murphy, when he was just 21 years old and celebrating his birthday at Studio 54, the legendary actor Yul Brynner approached him with an unusual proposition.

Brynner, known for his roles in films like "The King and I" and "The Ten Commandments," asked Murphy if he would like to "go back to [Brynner's] apartment with [his] wife and I and party." At the time, Murphy politely declined, not fully understanding the nature of Brynner's invitation. It wasn't until years later that Murphy realized Brynner was likely proposing a sexual encounter involving Murphy, Brynner, and Brynner's wife.

"Now I wish I would've went," Murphy said in the documentary. "The story would end better if, you know, 'Yeah, I went back to Yul Brynner's spot and f---ed his wife. He was watching me f---ing... He was going, 'Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.'"

Murphy's recollection of his wild encounters with celebrities in the 80s aligns with the stories his late brother, Charlie Murphy, shared on "Chappelle's Show." The comedian insists that every night back then "was like that," with legendary figures like Rick James frequently engaging in debaucherous activities. However, Murphy himself says he was never curious about partaking in those kinds of situations, preferring to simply "bounce" when things started to get out of hand.

Despite his proximity to the excesses of Hollywood in his youth, Murphy reveals he has never even tried cocaine or other hard drugs. He also didn't start smoking marijuana until he was 30 years old, preferring to steer clear of substances even when offered by his famous peers.