Breaking: Eddie Murphy Exits as Host of 84th Academy Awards

Whoa. Does this mean Eddie Murphy hates rehearsing too, or…?

Beverly Hills, CA – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President Tom Sherak announced that Eddie Murphy has withdrawn as host of the 84th Academy Awards. “I appreciate how Eddie feels about losing his creative partner, Brett Ratner, and we all wish him well,” said Sherak.

Commented Murphy, “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 a part of the show that our production team and writers were just starting to develop, but I’m sure that the new production team and host will do an equally great job.”

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2011 will be presented on Sunday, February 26, 2012, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live by the ABC Television Network. The Oscar® presentation also will be televised live in more than 200 countries worldwide.

I was dead wrong about this. Just couldn’t see how Eddie Murphy would want to align himself in “solidarity” with Ratner.

Last night Jeremie was very savvy in the comments:

at the same point I don’t really see how it could work out for Murphy without Ratner. Ratner chose him and gave him the job in a silly PR move for Tower Heist. Now the film is also a big BO disappointment, I don’t see why the AMPAS would want to stick with him. Plus I also don’t see what kind of producer would agree to step in now without having a say on who’s is going to be presenting. That would be kind of a big “creative” compromise.

That’s the thing. That’s the crux of it.