Eddie Murphy Reveals Real Reason for Leaving the 2007 Oscars Early

For nearly two decades, rumors have circulated that Eddie Murphy stormed out of the 2007 Academy Awards in a fit of rage. The actor had been a favorite to win Best Supporting Actor for his role in Dreamgirls but lost the trophy to Alan Arkin for Little Miss Sunshine. Now, Murphy is finally setting the record straight about his abrupt exit that night.

In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, the comedy legend clarified that he did not leave because he was bitter or angry. He explained that his decision was actually driven by a desire to avoid an evening of pity from his peers. After the winner was announced, he felt uncomfortable with the reaction from those around him.

Murphy recalled that people immediately began approaching him to offer their condolences. He described how fellow attendees kept coming over to pat him on the back, which he found overwhelming. The final straw came when Clint Eastwood approached him and rubbed his shoulder in a sympathetic manner.

At that moment, Murphy decided he did not want to be “the sympathy guy” for the rest of the ceremony. He told himself he wasn’t going to sit there and endure that kind of attention all night. Consequently, he chose to quietly leave the event rather than stay for the remaining awards and performances.

Contrary to the headlines at the time, Murphy insists he held no ill will toward Alan Arkin. In fact, he revealed that he had predicted Arkin’s victory months before the nominations were even announced. Murphy had seen an early screening of Little Miss Sunshine and immediately recognized the power of Arkin’s performance.

He remembers telling producer Jeff Katzenberg that Arkin’s role was the kind that would “steal somebody’s Oscar.” Murphy jokingly added that Arkin did indeed steal his, but he maintained that the veteran actor totally deserved the win. He noted that winning an Academy Award often involves intangible factors beyond just the performance itself.

Murphy’s recent comments were made while promoting his new Netflix documentary, Being Eddie. The film takes a look back at his extensive career, including the highs and lows of his time in Hollywood. This clarification finally puts to rest the long-standing narrative that his early departure was an act of poor sportsmanship.

Do you think you would have stayed for the rest of the show if you were in his position, or would you have left too? Let us know what you think in the comments.