Eddie Murphy Exits as Host of the Academy Awards

Comedian Eddie Murphy has withdrawn himself as the host of the upcoming Oscar Awards after his buddy, producer/director Brett Ratner was relieved of his role of producer for using a gay slur during during a recent interview promoting their new movie Tower Heist.

In a statement published by the New York Daily News, Murphy had the following to say:

First and foremost, I want to say that I completely understand and support each  party’s decision with regard to a change of producers for this year’s Academy  Awards ceremony...I was truly looking forward to being part of the show that our production team  and writers were just starting to develop, but I’m sure the new production team  and host will do an equally great job.

Ratner, who's list of directing credits include the aforementioned Tower Heist as well as all three films in the Rush Hour franchise plus X-Men: The Last Stand, came under fire late last week for saying the phrase, "Rehearsal is for f**gs" during a Q & A session to promote Tower Heist. He followed that up with a lewd interview on The Howard Stern Show in which he went into graphic detail about his bedroom escapades with Lindsay Lohan and former girlfriend Olivia Munn. The combination of the two obviously being enough for the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences to determine that they wanted someone else running the show when The Oscars telecast airs live on ABC on February 26th, 2012.

Without Murphy, it looks like no one will be falling for the old banana in the tailpipe trick.

[Source: New York Daily News]