Sometimes the high road is the best road to take.
During last week’s historic “Saturday Night Live” 40th anniversary special, superstar comedian and actor Eddie Murphy made a brief appearance but did not participate in any of the night’s sketches, much to the dismay of fans across the world.
Shortly thereafter, fellow “SNL” alum Norm McDonald revealed via Twitter that Murphy was offered the chance to spoof embattled icon Bill Cosby during the “Celebrity Jeopardy” sketch but decided the night before the show not to do it.
“He knew the laughs would bring the house down,” Macdonald said. “[But]) Eddie decides the laughs are not worth it. He will not kick a man when he is down.”
Though the two famously expressed opposing views regarding the use of profanity in Murphy’s routines at the height of his comedic career in the ’80s, Cosby apparently was most appreciative of Murphy’s kind gesture and his willingness not to use him for easy laughs.
“I am very appreciative of Eddie and I applaud his actions,” Cosby said in a statement issued via a spokesperson.
Murphy is not the first celebrity to speak out on behalf of Cosby.
In December, Cosby used Twitter to personally thank both Jill Scott and Whoopi Goldberg, who have gone on record in defense of him in the face of numerous rape allegations being levied against the 77-year-old comedian.
