How Does Eddie Murphy Get a Pass?

[ryansartor]

I listened to Eddie Murphy's self-titled album, and the opening track is one of the more homophobic diatribes I've come across.

How has he never had to publicly apologize for this?

What do you guys think?

Here's the track:  Eddie Murphy Faggots

[cavorting with nudists]

I think he got some criticism for it, but not so much in the mainstream media.  Nowadays, when a Tracy Morgan says some stupid homophobic shit, he's called to account for it in all sorts of major media outlets, but back in '82 you might have been taken to task by Michael Musto and The Advocate and that would have been about it.  And then it's a three-day story at best, because those minor media figures have no juice to keep churning the story and putting pressure on for a public apology.

[wood and iron]

Not that apologies automatically excuse anything but he has apologized for this kind of stuff:

http://articles.sfgate.com/1996-05-11/news/17773789_1_apology-aids-human-rights-campaign-fund

[buffcoat]

Yes - as much anti-gay crap as there still is out there, it would probably have been unimaginable to Eddie Murphy (and the vast swath of society) that he'd ever get in trouble for it.

I've always disliked the political correctness movement and been frustrated at its excesses, but lately I've started to question whether we didn't need an era of hypersensitivity to make up for the complete disdain for minority groups that was present back then.  I can believe it'd be hard for someone who came of age in the 2000s to conceive of it, much as I can't understand how full-on segregation was in place not long before I was born.

[daveB from Oakland]

I've always disliked the political correctness movement and been frustrated at its excesses, but lately I've started to question whether we didn't need an era of hypersensitivity to make up for the complete disdain for minority groups that was present back then.

Sure, there were some "PC" types who got a little overbearing, but overall I think we're a better society for having gone through that.