Comedian Eddie Murphy declined to make fun of fellow entertainer Bill Cosby when he was asked to do so on the "Saturday Night Live" 40th anniversary special.
Norm Macdonald, a former "SNL" cast member, tweeted this week that it was "his job" to convince Murphy to play Cosby in a "Celebrity Jeopardy" skit on the show. “We talk in his dressing room a good hour,” he tweeted. “When it’s over, I’m convinced he’ll do it. He doesn’t.”
But, Macdonald tweeted, while Murphy may have known that the laughs would “bring the house down,” he wasn’t willing to play the part.
“Eddie decides the laughs are not worth it. He will not kick a man when he is down,” Macdonald tweeted.
Cosby has been accused of sexual assault by more than 20 women, allegations which he has denied.
Through a spokesperson,
NBC News reported Cosby said, “I am very appreciative of Eddie and I applaud his actions.”
Macdonald’s admiration for Murphy’s decision was clear in two tweets:
It was Murphy’s first return to the "SNL" stage in 30 years. He ended up making a short and “what many considered to be an awkward appearance” on the anniversary special, NBC said.
On the "Today" show, the hosts pointed out that many of the stars involved in "SNL40" said the coolest part of doing the show was the rehearsals and the week leading up to the main event.
About 23 million people watched the SNL magic happen.
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