Eddie Murphy Breaks Out Cosby Impression at Kennedy Center

PHOTO: Eddie Murphy accepts Mark Twain Prize Sunday at the Kennedy Center; photo courtesy of the Kennedy Center; photo by Margot Shulman

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Comedian and actor Eddie Murphy, the recipient of this year’s Mark Twain Prize at the Kennedy Center, broke out his imitation of Bill Cosby as he accepted the award Sunday in Washington, D.C.

“Bill has one of these,” Murphy said to the audience, looking at the bust of Twain.

“Did you all make Bill give his back?” he said, referring to alleged efforts by some to have Cosby return his trophy. “You know you [expletive] up when they want you to give your trophies back.”

Murphy refused to impersonate Cosby at the Saturday Night Live 40th anniversary show saying it wasn’t appropriate telling The Washington Post: “There’s nothing funny about it. If you get up there and you crack jokes about him, you’re just hurting people. You’re hurting him. You’re hurting his accusers. I was like, ‘Hey, I’m coming back to SNL for the anniversary, I’m not turning my moment on the show into this other thing.’”