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Thursday 10 November 11:30 a.m.
Eddie Murphy has quit as Oscars host a day after pal Brett Ratner resigned as the big event's producer.
The Rush Hour director stepped down over a homophobic slur he made during a movie question-and-answer session last week (04Nov11) and now the funnyman Ratner signed on to present the Academy Awards has followed him out the door.
A statement from Murphy, released on Wednesday morning (09Nov11), reads, "First and foremost I want to say 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."
Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences president Tom Sherak has responded to the news by stating, "I appreciate how Eddie feels about losing his creative partner, Brett Ratner, and we all wish him well."
Ratner's fellow Oscars producer Don Mischer and his team are expected to make an announcement about a replacement host in the coming days.
The Academy Awards ceremony will take place in Hollywood on 26 February (12).
WENN.com
Meanwhile Billy Crystal has emerged as the clear favourite to replace Eddie as Oscars host in a new online poll.