Murphy quits as Oscars host in wake of producer’s gay slur

EDDIE Murphy has bowed out of his role as host of the Oscars following his friend Brett Ratner’s decision to leave the show as producer because of an uproar over a gay slur.

The news of Murphy’s decision came a day after Ratner quit as producer of the February 26 Academy Awards show.

Ratner left amid criticism of his use of a pejorative term for gay men in a question-and-answer session at a screening of his action comedy Tower Heist, which stars Murphy and Ben Stiller.

Murphy said in a statement that he had looked forward to being host at the Oscars but that he understands and supports “each party’s decision with regard to a change of producers”.