Eddie Murphy rejected an offer to play Bill Cosby on the 40th anniversary "Saturday Night Live" special, according to former cast member and comedian Norm Macdonald. Macdonald said Murphy turned down a suggestion that he do an impression of comedian Bill Cosby, who has been accused of sexual assault...n 20 women. Cosby has never been charged and through lawyers has denied the allegations.

"(Murphy) knew the laughs would bring the house down. Eddie Murphy knows what will work on SNL better than any one (sic)," Macdonald said on Twitter. "Eddie decides the laughs are not worth it. He will not kick a man when he is down."

In a statement released to NBC News through a spokesperson, Cosby said: "I am very appreciate of Eddie and I applaud his actions."

Macdonald wrote around 100 tweets detailing the writing process leading up to the anniversary show. He said he had met Murphy in his dressing room and tried to persuade the comedian to perform the sketch. "Eddie Murphy, I realize, is not like the rest of us. Eddie does not need the laughs," Macdonald said.

In his brief appearance during the televised "SNL40" special, Murphy did not appear as a character or tell jokes. Instead, he talked about what the legendary NBC show meant to him. Murphy joined "Saturday Night Live" in 1981 when he was just 19 years old and left in 1985.

Eddie Murphy appears on "SNL40" on Sunday.

— Alexander Smith

First published February 19th 2015, 4:56 am

I actually applaud Eddie's actions for this reason as well but you mean to tell me that Bill Cosby was the ONLY character offered for him to play during the skit? He couldn't have just played someone else...say for instance, Stevie Wonder, instead which would had been just as funny if not funnier?

missfee said:

Beautifulstarr123 said:

missfee said:

I actually applaud Eddie's actions for this reason as well but you mean to tell me that Bill Cosby was the ONLY character offered for him to play during the skit? He couldn't have just played someone else...say for instance, Stevie Wonder, instead which would had been just as funny if not funnier?

Maybe that was the only character he was offered to play, and no one else. Probably not his fault.

Oh I wasn't implying that it was his fault...but I do feel like he had enough power to make suggestions. In any case, it does appear that it was out of his hands and therefore, all that remained was the awkwardness. Oh well, it was good of him to show up and make an appearance despite the situation.

[Edited 2/19/15 9:05am]

Or maybe he didn't do it because he doesn't find sexual assault a laughing matter.

Good for him. A lot of fans were upset because he really didn't do anything on the show..I was just glad to see him speak even though it was brief. Deep down he probably didn't even want to be there but he came through. And I thought Chris Rock's intro was really cool.

yeah... i don't give a shit about cosby.

but i respect Eddie for not "doin it for the vine"

priciples come before money.

Hannabal did his shit to put focus on

cosby's bigheadedness

snl wanted to get bucks usin Eddie

had he did the skits they wanted

he'd be no better than the sellout

he chose not to kick when he down.

OF COURSE WE KNOW HE GONNA CATCH DAMAGE FOR IT!!!

but that's the meanin of INTEGRITY...

don't kick yo folks for money or fame

OR a fake ass PHD

I thought the entire show was horrible. Norm Macdonald was hillarious though during the Jeopardy skit. That whole skit was pretty good. I like his online show as well. Eddie would have killed but I think him just basically saying nothing said a lot.

KingBAD said:

3rdeyedude said:

I thought the entire show was horrible. Norm Macdonald was hillarious though during the Jeopardy skit. That whole skit was pretty good. I like his online show as well. Eddie would have killed but I think him just basically saying nothing said a lot.

You didn't like Bill Murry's Jaws performance?

i cried

HuMpThAnG said:

3rdeyedude said:

I thought the entire show was horrible. Norm Macdonald was hillarious though during the Jeopardy skit. That whole skit was pretty good. I like his online show as well. Eddie would have killed but I think him just basically saying nothing said a lot.

You didn't like Bill Murry's Jaws performance?

i cried

Oh yeah, that was hilarious!!!

i'm glad he didn't do the bit. imo, there isn't much that's funny about the cosby issue anyway

missfee said:

I actually applaud Eddie's actions for this reason as well but you mean to tell me that Bill Cosby was the ONLY character offered for him to play during the skit? He couldn't have just played someone else...say for instance, Stevie Wonder, instead which would had been just as funny if not funnier?

Eddie could've played James Brown, for old times sakes.

Anyone else find the acting really lacks on SNL?? I always feel like I'm watching people read cue cards. It seems like a rehearsal. I felt compelled to say this after watching the Black Annie skit.

I agree about Bill Murray..He killed it!! The censors bleeped him too..I thought that was comical.

*/* & Con quer

Bill wouldda been mad at Eddie & they neva wouldda talked...you know the rest

eddie

Eddie is a stand up dude. I'm proud of him...

TonyVanDam said:

missfee said:

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

Eddie is a stand up dude. I'm proud of him...

eddie was the first to kick shit on cos about his 'better than thou' attitude

And karma came back & bit Cosby in the ass for it. So why should Eddie, kick a black man while he is down?

here is another article about the story that shows you Eddie's girlfriend...........WOW!!!

http://www.nydailynews.co...-1.2121865

here is a link to Norm's twitter feed (interesting tale of the events behind this story) https://twitter.com/normmacdonald

[Edited 2/22/15 6:18am]

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

Eddie is a stand up dude. I'm proud of him...

Hear. Hear.