The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) announced on Wednesday that Eddie Murphy has withdrawn as host of this year’s Oscar ceremony.Host of the 84th Academy Awards®

Apparently, Brett Ratner (one of the producers of the telecast) made some “offensive” public remarks that upset some AMPAS members.

At the time of this writing, the folks here at BCNews could not establish whether Mr. Ratner refused to apologize for the “offensive” remarks, or if the apology offered was deemed disengenuous and as a result refused. In any event, Ratner resigns from the show. Now this is the part where Eddie Murphy comes in…

Eddie Murphy and Brett Ratner are friends… so much so that the only reason Murphy accepted the hosting gig was at the invitation of Ratner.

In fact the two had just finished collaborating on this year’s comedy caper, “Tower Heist.”

In a statement Murphy said, “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.”

Murphy already had a stormy history with the Oscars. He appeared on the show several times, most recently when he presented Jerry Lewis with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 2009, but is famously known for making an early exit from the Kodak Theater in 2006 after losing to Alan Arkin in the Best Supporting Actor category.

That nomination, for “Dreamgirls,” was the only one of Murphy’s career.

One Academy member stated regarding Murphy’s decision, “He needs to stay on and work with the new producer, or it’ll look like he’s supporting the stuff that Brett said,” said one member of the public relations branch on Tuesday afternoon. “He won’t look good if he leaves now.”

Murphy, though, recently told Rolling Stone that he considers himself “a semi-retired gentleman of leisure,” and said, “I only want to do what I really want to do, otherwise I’m content to sit here and play my guitar all day.”

Early in his career, Murphy dealt with his own charges of homophobia, and apologized for joking about AIDS and using derogatory language to refer to gays.

Murphy’s exit leaves the Academy with two big holes to fill in the upcoming show: a producer to work alongside Don Mischer, and a host to replace Murphy.

While the producers are virtually always in place by this time of year, it is common for the Oscars not to have a host at this point in the calendar.

Of the last three Oscar hosts, or host teams, only the Steve Martin/Alec Baldwin pairing at the 2009 Oscars was announced in early November. Last year’s hosts, James Franco and Anne Hathaway, weren’t in place until November 29, while 2008 host Hugh Jackman wasn’t announced until mid December.

In the past, hosts have been announced as late as early January.

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A perfect storm is brewing for Eddie Murphy to make his first appearance on this weekend’s “Saturday Night Live” since leaving the show in 1984 and igniting a feud with creator Lorne Michaels.

Work is going on behind the scenes for Murphy to pop up on the NBC show when his “Tower Heist” co-star, Ben Stiller, hosts Saturday night, we’re told. Murphy’s hosting the next Oscar telecast, which happens to be produced by “Tower” director Brett Ratner.

Reports of bad blood between Murphy and “SNL” surfaced after cast member David Spade took a shot at him during a career slump. In a mock entertainment news segment, Spade showed a picture of Murphy and joked around the time of his 1989 film “Harlem Nights,” “Look children, a falling star … Quick, make a wish!”

WireImage

Eddie Murphy

Sources say Murphy was not amused at the time and complained bitterly to Michaels, “demanding an apology, but Michaels sided with his writers, saying he had to give them creative freedom.”

Murphy has never joined any “SNL” reunions or specials, sparking further speculation of a long-standing beef with Michaels. But sources say Ratner eased the way to bring Murphy back and bury the hatchet.

But reps for both Murphy and Ratner said it wasn’t definitely in the cards yet. “There are no plans for Eddie to appear on ‘SNL’ at this time, but perhaps in the future he will make a return,” said a rep for Murphy, which was echoed by Ratner’s rep.

“Eddie rarely does appearances, and nothing is scheduled,” said another source. A different spy close to the show noted, “He hasn’t been on ‘SNL’ for over 25 years, it would be astonishing if he did it.”

Another source denied tension between Murphy and Michaels, claiming, “There was never any hatchet to be buried. Eddie has never had any issues with Lorne.” An “SNL” rep didn’t get back to us.

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Puffy has revealed that he wants to be the next Eddie Murphy, saying, “I’m funnier than you think”.

In an impromptu interview with the Los Angeles Times, the 40 year old hip-hop mogul spoke about his desire to be taken seriously as an actor.

He said: “To be honest, as an actor, I had a dream – and everybody had laughed at me – but I was like, there’s nobody to ever fill the void of the way Eddie Murphy was in 48 Hours or, you know, even Chris Tucker.”

“And as a comedic actor, I think I could one day fill that role.

“And people are like, ‘Are you crazy? You’re not even funny’. And I’m like, ‘No, you’ll see. I’m funnier than you think’.

“And that’s my mission.”

Combs plays a music mogul in the Russell Brand comedy Get Him To The Greek, revealed that he arduously prepared for the role, even going so far as creating a background for his character Sergio Roma.

He said: “I think this role will definitely be a revelation to people.

“People have this perception of me – which is my fault – of champagne-sipping and The Hamptons and white fur and just cliché-type of things that are just kind of old and dated and corny…

“That was just part of my image for a second. It wasn’t who Sean is.”

He added: “You evolve – like, I need to retire my diamond necklace and fur jacket now.

“Things change. Times change…”

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