Eddie Murphy No Longer Hosting The Oscars

When it was announced two months ago many found the choice of Eddie Murphy to host The Oscars an inspired one. The show has struggled in recent years with bland, tired headliners or those that disappointed to cringe-worthy levels. Brett Ratner was slated to produce the show and picked the star of his film Tower Heist (which just released last week). Ironically it is Ratner that ended up costing Murphy the gig given his departure from the production.

Ratner has come under fire lately for controversial comments – the most troubling being the use of a homophobic slur. That caused him to get ousted (though he technically “stepped down”).  In doing so his host went along with him, either in a show of solidarity and loyalty or with The Oscars choosing to go another direction, that hasn’t really been made clear.

Murphy: “I was looking forward to being part of the show that our production team and writers were just starting to develop, but I’m sure the new production team and host will do an equally great job.”

This is disappointing because it will probably mean another safe choice for host will come. There is little chance they’ll go with anyone even remotely controversial after this debacle.