Eddie Murphy Quits As Next Year's Oscar Host

It's official, actor Eddie Murphy has pulled out as host of next year's Oscar Awards.

This decision comes only hours after his pal, director Brett Ratner resigned from co-producing the awards. Murphy released a statement through AMPAS:

"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."

The 2012 Oscars will air live on ABC February 26. There is still no news on who will replace Murphy, although it has already been announced that A Beautiful Mind producer Brian Grazer would join the veteran producer Don Mischer in co-producing the broadcast. 

Why would he do this? It's not like he has that many options out there. I'm not saying I was looking forward to seeing him host, because I wasn't, but it seemed like a good career move. You know, since his career has basically been in the toilet for the last couple of years, ha ha.

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Director Brett Ratner Resigns From 84th Oscar Awards

Everyone's so PC now....it drives me crazy.

Tower Heist director Brett Ratner has recently resigned from co-producing next year's 84th annual Oscar Awards. His resignation came after apologizing for using "an offensive term to describe homosexuals".

Ratner, 42, used the gay slur during a question-and-answer session at Hollywood's Arclight cinema on Friday, and again on Howard Stern's program. 

 In his apology, Ratner said that it was "a dumb way of expressing myself". 

I'm not saying it's right but resigning, was it truly necessary? Guess so.

"He did the right thing for the Academy and for himself," Academy President Tom Sherak said in a statement, regarding Ratner's resignation. "Words have meaning, and they have consequences. Brett is a good person, but his comments were unacceptable. We all hope this will be an opportunity to raise awareness about the harm that is caused by reckless and insensitive remarks, regardless of the intent." 

Even after giving up his job and apologizing Ratner is still coming under fire. The Academy is as well, mostly because they didn't fire him on the spot. 

Rumors are that the Academy is now scared of losing host Eddie Murphy since he was recruited for the spot by Ratner. Guess we'll have to wait and see if Murphy quits on them, although I doubt he will. He really hasn't had much work lately so...

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Eddie Murphy Will Host 2012 Oscars

Why? Weren't we tortured enough by Anne Hathaway & James Franco this year? Give us a break. Eddie Murphy hasn't been in a movie or on stage in years so I really have no idea how this guy's name got thrown out there...maybe they simply picked it from a hat? That would make sense.

According to PEOPLE, the 50-year-old Nutty Professor star has been selected to host 2012's Academy Awards show in February.

"Eddie is a comedic genius, one of the greatest and most influential live performers ever," telecast producer Brett Ratner says. "I know he will bring excitement, spontaneity and tremendous heart to the show."

I guess he can't do any worse than James Franco tweeting on stage, right?

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