Murphy enters Image Awards Hall
Actor-comedian Eddie Murphy was inducted into the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame at the organization’s show that highlighted works by entertainers and athletes of color. After Murphy accepted his induction award Saturday night, he said he was “very moved” by the honor.
He was presented the award by his longtime friend and “Coming 2 America” co-star Arsenio Hall.
“I’ve been making movies for 40 years now ... 40 years. This is the perfect thing to commemorate that and be brought into the hall of fame,” he said. “Thank you very much. I’m very moved.”
Murphy went on to send a message to Hall about his famous red leather suit from his 1983 stand-up special “Delirious.”
“My red suit was not that tight, Arsenio,” Murphy said. “I get a lot of cracks about that red suit. When I was rocking that red suit, that (expletive) was fly.”
The hall of fame induction is bestowed on an individual who is viewed as a pioneer in their respective field and whose influence shaped the “profession for generations to come.” Previous inductees include Oprah Winfrey, Stevie Wonder, Spike Lee, Ray Charles and Sidney Poitier. The most recent honorees to be inducted were Cheryl Boone Isaacs and Paris Barclay in 2014.
The awards ceremony virtually aired live on BET. It was also simulcast on CBS, MTV, VH1, MTV2, BET HER and LOGO.
“Black-ish” star and comedian Anthony Anderson hosted the show for the eighth consecutive year.
The late Chadwick Boseman won best actor in a motion picture for his role in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.” Viola Davis took home best actress for her film and television roles in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” and “How to Get Away with Murder.”
Osbourne off ‘The Talk’:
CBS says Sharon Osbourne will no longer appear on its daytime show “The Talk” after a heated on-air discussion about racism earlier this month. The network said late last week Osbourne had decided to leave the show after a review found in part that “Sharon’s behavior toward her co-hosts during the March 10 episode did not align with our values for a respectful workplace.”
The network said its internal inquiry said the show’s co-hosts, including Osbourne and Sheryl Underwood, were not properly prepared by the show’s team for a discussion on race. But it said there was no evidence found to support Osbourne’s claim CBS ordered she be confronted about her support of British TV personality Piers Morgan. Morgan, who is a friend of Osbourne’s, left “Good Morning Britain” after saying he didn’t believe Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, when she said in an interview that she had considered suicide when unhappy with her life in Britain’s royal family.
No replacement has been announced. CBS said the show will not return until April 12.
Alabama Shakes drummer facing charges:
The drummer for Grammy Award-winning rock band Alabama Shakes is facing child abuse charges. Steven William Johnson, 35, was arrested Wednesday after being indicted on charges of willful torture, willful abuse and cruelly beating or otherwise willfully maltreating a child under the age of 18, news outlets reported in Huntsville, Alabama.
Managers for the band did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. An arraignment date is set for April 7.
March 29 birthdays:
Comedian Eric Idle is 78. Actor Bud Cort is 73. Actor Brendan Gleeson is 66. Actor Marina Sirtis is 66. Actor Christopher Lambert is 64. Singer Perry Farrell is 62. Comedian Amy Sedaris is 60. Actor Lucy Lawless is 53. Actor Megan Hilty is 40.