In a candid revelation, Eddie Murphy shared an unforgettable moment from his early career when comedy icons John Belushi and Robin Williams allegedly offered him cocaine. Murphy, who was just 19 at the time, recounted the incident on the New York Times’ “The Interview” podcast.
“I remember I was 19, I went to the Blues Bar. It was me, Belushi, and Robin Williams,” Murphy said on the podcast, which aired Saturday. “They started doing coke, and I was like, ‘No, I’m cool.’”
The “Beverly Hills Cop” star, now 63, expressed his gratitude for declining their offer, noting that he had no interest in trying the drug. “I wasn’t taking some moral stance. I just wasn’t interested in it,” Murphy explained. “To not have the desire or the curiosity, I’d say that’s providence. God was looking over me in that moment.”
Murphy also reflected on the tragic fates of many famous figures, including Belushi and Williams. Belushi died of a heroin overdose at 33 in 1982, and Williams took his own life in 2014 at 63. Murphy described their stories, along with those of other stars like Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley, as “cautionary tales.”
“When you get famous really young, especially as a Black artist, it’s like living in a minefield. Any moment something could happen that can undo everything,” Murphy noted. “It was like, all of this stuff is going on, and I’m totally oblivious.”
Murphy’s career began at 19 on “Saturday Night Live,” and he has since navigated the perils of fame for decades. He attributes his success and survival to a guiding force.
“Now, at this age, I can look back and be like, ‘Wow, I came through a minefield for 35 years.’ How do you make it through a minefield for 35, 40 years? Something has to be looking over you.”
Despite his early fame, Murphy confirmed he never took up drinking and only tried weed at 30, reinforcing his disinterest in substances throughout his illustrious career.
