Tommy Davidson Claims "SNL" Creator Lorne Michaels Called Eddie Murphy "A Mistake"

BY Erika Marie 25.7K Views
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Eddie Murphy, Tommy Davidson
But...why?

It was a historic moment just a month ago when Eddie Murphy returned to the Saturday Night Live stage after decades away from the hit series. His career took off when he was added as a cast member at 19-years-old, and when he joined the current cast of comedians to revive his beloved SNL characters, the series brought in its highest ratings for 2019.

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Now that his memoir Living in Color is available for purchase, Tommy Davidson seems to be spilling all the comedy tea. The In Living Color star has been enjoying his run around the press circuit as he shares tidbits of interactions that he's had with other famous figures throughout his career. He recently claimed that during his stint on In Living Color, Jamie Foxx was a "mean" person who liked to bully him. In a recent interview with The Breakfast Club, Davidson stated that SNL creator and producer Lorne Michaels thought hiring Eddie Murphy was a "mistake."

"We broke the color barrier with In Living Color, but once the success of In Living Color came, like, look at Foxx now," Davidson said. "That'll show you right there. Now, there was the...Entertainment Weekly had the hottest shows of the nineties. And we weren't in there. Not one single picture. Not even my foot. Not even Jennifer [Lopez's] ass and that's gon' be in any frame... So yeah, that was there, because when I broke into the comedy scene, I broke into all the white clubs turning it out. Standing ovations. Killing it."

He may have been wowing audiences, but he still was being rejected by those with the power to create career shifts. "And what they would tell me is, you're not the one we want," he said. "You're not what we're looking for. Even with Lorne Michaels, when I came to audition for SNL, he was like, 'I'm not lookin' for a black comedian. Eddie Murphy was a mistake.' I was like... That was supposed to be my audition. And he said, 'Have a nice day.' I was like, 'Whoa, hold on.'"

Davidson added that he didn't know why Michaels alleged called Murphy a "mistake." He added, "If you think Eddie was a mistake then what kind of show do you have? He like, saved your show?" Watch Tommy Davidson's full interview with The Breakfast Club below.


About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.