Eddie Murphy’s Golden Globes Speech Was Refreshing and Full of References…Including to the Oscars Slap

Eddie Murphy truly took the cake at the 2023 Golden Globes as the recipient of the Cecil B. DeMille Award—a distinction given to major (read: beyond legendary) icons, including Alfred Hitchcock, Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks and Oprah Winfrey. TL;DR: Tonight’s a pretty big deal for him! And he deserves every second of it.

“I’ve been in show business for 46 years and in the movie business for 41 years, so this has been a long time in the making and is greatly appreciated,” the actor said from the podium when accepting the award before delving into his advice for “up-and-coming dreamers and artists” in the auditorium.

“There is a definitive blueprint you can follow to achieve success, prosperity, and peace of mind. There’s a blueprint and I’ve followed it my whole career: Pay your taxes, mind your business, and keep Will Smith’s wife’s name out of your f–king mouth!” he said in reference to Will’s now-infamous slap of Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars. Oop!

Since the Golden Globes’ inception in 1952, it has paid tribute to those who have made massive contributions to Hollywood’s cultural landscape by way of acting. And with roles in films from Coming to America to Beverly Hills Cop and Dreamgirls, a four-year stint on the cast of Saturday Night Live, and a career that has spanned over four decades, Eddie was an obvious choice for such a huge honor.

Of the award, Hollywood Foreign Press Association chief diversity officer Neil Phillips told the New York Post, “Eddie’s incredible range as an artist and the universal appeal of his body of work is very much aligned with our spirit of diversity...Honoring such a beloved talent with this award compliments our commitment to celebrating artists from all communities, whose breadth of abilities are unmatched.”

Leaving you with this tweet baiiiiii:

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