After Brett Ratner, director of Tower Heist, uttered an offensive gay word during a press conference, he resigned from his post of producing next year’s Academy Awards. Within days of his resignation, a “furious” Eddie Murphy also resigned from hosting the show on the basis of an “[overreaction] to that ‘rehearsals are for fags’ comment,” the Chicago Sun Times reports.
Tom Sherak, president of the Motion Picture Academy, said he understands “how Eddie feels about losing his creative partner.”
Murphy is reportedly upset over Ratner’s resignation “especially since Brett made such a strong and sincere apology.”
Longtime favorite Billy Crystal is due to host next year’s Academy Awards. TV’s funny man tweeted, “Am doing the Oscars so the young woman in the pharmacy will stop asking my name when I pick up prescriptions. Looking forward to the show.”
