> At a Glance
> – Eddie Murphy left the 2007 Oscars early after losing Best Supporting Actor to Alan Arkin
> – Murphy had already predicted Arkin would win after seeing Little Miss Sunshine months earlier
> – The actor says he departed to avoid being “the sympathy guy all night”
> – Why it matters: Murphy’s candid account in his new Netflix doc Being Eddie ends 18 years of speculation
Eddie Murphy is setting the record straight on why he slipped out of the 79th Academy Awards before the telecast ended, revealing it was about dignity-not disappointment.
The Real Reason He Walked
Murphy told News Of Los Angeles that the shoulder-patting parade began the moment he lost Best Supporting Actor for Dreamgirls.Clint Eastwood even offered a consolatory rub.
> “I was like, ‘Oh, no, no, I’m not gonna be this guy all night. Let’s just leave,'”
he recalled, insisting he didn’t storm out-he simply chose not to marinate in pity.
He Knew the Outcome Months Earlier
A pre-release screening sealed Murphy’s hunch.
- Jeff Katzenberg showed him Little Miss Sunshine half a year before it hit theaters
- Murphy turned to Katzenberg and declared Arkin’s performance would “steal somebody’s Oscar”
- When Arkin’s name was called, Murphy wasn’t shocked-he’d already done the math
What the Nomination Taught Him
Murphy now views Oscars as “more art than science,” citing intangible factors like campaigning, career goodwill, and Hollywood IOUs.
> “When you add all of that stuff into it, he totally deserves his Oscar for his whole career. He’s an amazing actor.”
Awards-Show Philosophy
In the Being Eddie documentary, Murphy admits the ritual feels pointless when you lose.
> “I could have f—ing lost at home. I’m all in the f—ing tuxedo. What a waste of time.”
Key Takeaways
- Murphy’s early exit was a preemptive move against pity, not a tantrum
- He praised Arkin’s Little Miss Sunshine turn long before Oscar night
- The experience reshaped how Murphy views awards campaigning
- Being Eddie is now streaming on Netflix
With the anecdote finally on record, one of Oscar night’s longest-running mysteries quietly closes.
