Eddie Murphy Shares His Experience Leaving the 2007 Oscars Early After Losing for ‘Dreamgirls’ Role: “I Didn’t Storm Out”
Eddie Murphy has revealed that he did not leave the 2007 Oscars early due to disappointment over his loss for Best Supporting Actor. Contrary to popular belief, the actor departed the ceremony to avoid becoming a target for pity throughout the evening.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly about his Netflix documentary Being Eddie, Murphy explained, “What happened was I was at the Oscars, I had lost, and then people kept coming over to me and kept [patting] me on the shoulder. Clint Eastwood came and rubbed my shoulder. And I was like, ‘Oh, no, no, I’m not gonna be this guy all night. Let’s just leave.’ I didn’t storm out. I was like, ‘I’m not gonna be the sympathy guy all night.’”
In the film Dreamgirls, Murphy portrayed James (Jimmy) “Thunder” Early, a troubled R&B-soul singer inspired by icons such as Marvin Gaye and James Brown. The film took cues from the Motown label and featured a star-studded cast, including Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Hudson, Beyoncé Knowles, Danny Glover, Anika Noni Rose, and Keith Robinson.
That year, Murphy faced stiff competition for the award from Jackie Earle Haley in Little Children, Djimon Hounsou in Blood Diamond, Mark Wahlberg in The Departed, and Alan Arkin, who ultimately won for Little Miss Sunshine. After applauding Arkin’s victory, Murphy left before witnessing Hudson’s win for Best Supporting Actress or enjoying his co-stars’ performance of the film’s three nominated songs, sparking speculation about his reaction to losing.
Reflecting on Arkin’s performance, which he had anticipated would win, Murphy shared, “[Former DreamWorks CEO] Jeff Katzenberg invited me over to see Little Miss Sunshine six months before it came out in theaters, and I literally watched the movie and I watched Alan — and I hadn’t been nominated or anything yet — and I turned to Jeff afterwards and I said, ‘Now that performance right there is one of those performances that will steal somebody’s Oscar.’” His prediction proved accurate, as Arkin’s performance did indeed earn him the award. Murphy humorously clarified, “No, I don’t feel like he stole mine.”
