Eddie Murphy delays stand-up return as he feels 2020 doesn't 'need any comedic commentary'
Eddie Murphy has revealed his plans for a much-anticipated return to stand-up comedy have been postponed as he feels the current political climate is no laughing matter.
2020 has been a trying time across the globe, with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and civil and political unrest in the US following the death of George Floyd at the hands of police.
The issues have left the comedy legend feeling like the current climate does not require “any comedic commentary”.
Read more: Eddie Murphy returns to Saturday Night Live and brings Gumby, Buckwheat and Bill Cosby with him
Speaking backstage at the Creative Emmys, he said: “These are really serious times, no times for joking.
“I don’t know right now if there should be any comedic commentary. We’re still right in the middle of everything.
“In a year or so, we’ll need comedic commentary and some laughs, but now we’re right in this.”
He added: “As soon as it’s clear to go back out there, that was the plan, that is the plan.”
The 2020 Emmy Awards, which took place virtually on Saturday (19 September), saw the 59-year-old achieve his first ever Emmy win for last year’s triumphant return to long-running comedy series Saturday Night Live.
Read more: Beverly Hills Cop IV is still happening, say directors
Accepting the award, Murphy said: “Thank you to everybody at the Emmys. Thank you so much for giving me an Emmy, I don’t have an Emmy. This is 40 years since I started Saturday Night Live. This is my first Emmy, so thank you so much.
“I want to thank Lorne Michaels for putting this whole thing together and making this happen. And I want to thank the cast and the writers and the crew at SNL.
“This was a very very special thing for me to come back and have the show turn out the way it did. I’m still floating from it. And thank you to everybody for giving me an Emmy.”