When Tituss Burgess recently appeared on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, Cohen asked Burgess what it was like working with Eddie Murphy in their recent film Dolemite Is My Name because, “He was very problematic for the gays at one point when I was coming up.”
Burgess basically answered that Murphy was nice to him, but if you look at the expression on his face, he wasn’t too pleased with Cohen’s question and he explained why later on Instagram:
She can be a messy queen! Yes I said it! Don’t care he knows either! He should remember his talk show isn’t an episode of the real housewives of Atlanta! It’s a place where artists come to talk about art and have a little fun. NOT a place to rehash old rumors or bring a star negative press. Sunday was a display of ratchet behavior by a well connected man having blatant disregard for one of his guests. If only time were taken to know who I am and not assuming that I am the character I play on tv he would know how to conduct a proper interview with at all! I received 4 Emmy nominations for acting! NOT for being my self. He was lucky I had my wits and Christian values THAT day. Always keep it classy. Being friends with other talented celebrities doesn’t make you talented it makes you friends with other famous celebrities! He should rip a page from Anderson Cooper and learn how to do his job.
Here’s a clip of Cohen asking the question. (Watch for the extreme side eye that Burgess shoots him after answering the question.)
Page Six points out, “Cohen famously wrote in his memoir Most Talkative that he was traumatized in high school after attending one of Murphy’s standup shows with his friends where ‘every other word out of [Murphy’s] mouth’ was a gay slur. Cohen had not publicly addressed his sexuality with his friends at the time.”
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Yes, Murphy’s 1983 stand-up special Delirious features homophobic slurs and jokes about AIDS — and he was once caught by police in 1997 with a trans sex worker in his car — but that stand up special was 36 years ago, and he apologized for it in 1996, so it seems a little odd to ask Burgess about it.
But in all fairness, since Burgess and Cohen are both gay — and the experience shocked Cohen — perhaps it was fair game? Either way, Cohen probably didn’t get the reaction he expected from his guest. Lucky for him, his other guest, Laverne Cox, was all smiles during the segment.
Rex Huskey
who?
Wicked Dickie
Titus Adromedon, dear. You better recognize.
Kangol2
Get with it, girl. Miss Titus is a star!
Mr C
Not YOU that’s for sure!
WashDrySpin
you silly little gurl
theafricanwiththemouth
LMAO, in love love loooooove, with all the replies.
DarkZephyr
I’m kind of confused about why Tituss Burgess was so angry about and I’m confused about what he was saying in his later post. Burgess IS Gay…so why does he think Cohen was confusing him with a character he’s played on TV? This is a “Huh?” moment for me.
Wicked Dickie
“Cohen famously wrote in his memoir Most Talkative that he was traumatized in high school after attending one of Murphy’s standup shows with his friends where ‘every other word out of [Murphy’s] mouth’ was a gay slur. Cohen had not publicly addressed his sexuality with his friends at the time.” I’m sure he wasn’t offended when he was on his knees in the bathhouses in the West Village during the 80s.
WashDrySpin
Cohen thinks EVERYONE needs to relive and revisit his past PTSD moments…many have moved on and so should he…
Pistolo
Calling Andy a “messy Queen” in defense of Eddie f-king Murphy tells you everything you need to know. Tituss, instead of criticizing Andy for having celeb friends, why don’t you stop being the guard dog for yours, how bout? Because it’s not nuts somebody might remember Eddie Murphy’s relentless homophobia and comment on it. The guy’s in Disney movies, he’s worshipped- he can answer for hateful crap he’s said about people dying of AIDS.
I loved Tituss before but it’s clear to me now he’s just one of these grumpy bitches the internet worships, the kind who just gives homophobes ammunition. Fk Tituss.
Cam
1. Considering the interview was supposed to be about Titus, I get why he was annoyed.
2. Calling Andy a messy queen makes me like him more.
Mr C
PHUCK Andy!
WashDrySpin
Titus spoke the truth about Andy and YES it is the TRUTH…
Too many gay men think that they can speak to another gay man in any manner that they want and Cohen is one of them…
Gay Veteran
Eddie Murphy’s peek days of of stand up were before my time. Personally, I only remember Eddie Murphy being known for cursing a lot and wearing these skimpy leather outfits. If Eddie Murphy was really that problematic 20+ years then that’s a question for Eddie Murphy, not Tituss Burgess. Also, in the 16 seasons of the show Andy has had so many problematic(homophobic and racist) celebrities that he didn’t call out on the show… practice what you preach and “keep going girl, finish your show”.
Donston
There’s no doubt that Andy is messy, hypocritical, indulges petty gossip, loves to bring up very old drama, and loves to throw shade on celebs he don’t care for. However, it’s not as if that rep isn’t widely known. So, I’m not getting Titus’ social media tirade.
Kangol2
Andy should have focused on Titus the person and actor, rather than rehashing his trauma about Eddie Murphy, who was with a TRANS woman, back in 1997, and who was dogged by rumors of being with Johnny Gill and others. He isn’t “straight” no matter how many kids he’s got. I personally would not have gotten that upset about it, in the moment or afterwards, but I also wish Titus, who can read for points, had checked Andy Cohen in the moment, with a smile on his face..
Donston
What does the rumors surrounding Murphy have anything to do with anything? The dude isn’t out. He’s never publicly dated anyone but cis women. And even if he were to admit some stuff that doesn’t absolve his past. I really couldn’t care less about Murphy’s old comedy routines (I understand the world was different decades ago), nor do I care about his sexual history or where he fits on the general orientation spectrum or his sense of self. Many “queers” (even quite a few of the out ones) are frequently anti-gay, frequently promote gay shame and often view hetero-dynamics and love as superior. The rumors about Murphy doesn’t really mean anything either way. I do think this is a classic case of “I’m a black faag, and I don’t want to seem like I’m betraying my race for this messy white faag. So, I’m gonna aimlessly defend another problematic figure”. Too many black “queers” fall into that trap. And Titus is the latest example. We can have a very difficult time maintaining a balance, being honest with ourselves and trying to stay a part of “both worlds”.
I do think it was very messy for Cohen to bring up Murphy’s decades old routines. And that was definitely not the time to make something about himself and his “trauma”. Still, Burgess knows what Cohen is about. The dude is messy to the nth degree. So, I still don’t get the social media rant.
MISTERJETT
i always wondered what was going on between Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall. oh, just me????
wiredpup
Andy Cohen is a trash human being who’s on a trash network and produces trash television.
ShiningSex
ANDY IS ANNOYIING, BUT EDDIE MURPHY IS THE TRASH AND TITUS NEEDS SOME D*CK. SHE’S TOO MOODY.
ShiningSex
EDDIE MURPHY IS A CLOSET CASE. TITUS NEEDS AN ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT. WHAT A BITCHY QUEEN.
ANDY IS ANNOYING TOO THOUGH.
MURPHY DID NOT DESERVE TO WIN FOR DREAM GIRLS. OH PLEASE!!! THAT’S A JOKE
WashDrySpin
You are a little man hiding behind the internet and it is laughable
nycbklyn
FYI I hate Andy and that corny show, but if i were andy I woulda been like Titus gurl why your panties in a bunch its a question, everyone today gets mad if they not getting they ass kissed Nd if it bothered him why he didnt say it on the show instead of being a punk and saying it afterward. I woulda been like Andy Didnt you invite me here lets talk about me gurl.
johnnymcmxxx
Alright Titus! Finally someone who won’t tolerate Cohen’s aggressive rudeness and doesn’t feel the need to kiss Cohen’s ass in order to keep their job. Ask Kathy Griffin who also wouldn’t kiss his ass. More “guests” need to call him out and challenge him when he is an obnoxious troll, which is most of the time.
armandov
I don’t like Cohen either but I think Titus is making a big deal of nothing. Eddie Murphy had made lots of anti-gay statements in the past and its simply curiosity from Cohen’s part and the part of the gay community – most gay people want to know what Murphy is like now and what his attitude towards gay people has changed. Any good interviewer would want to know that.
nitejonboy
I know who Titus Burgess is, but Who’s Andy Cohen ?
BGinBigD
Anyone appearing on WWHL should know by now that it’s ALL about Andy ALL the time. On tonight’s show, for example, Andy thought he looked like an old fashioned ice cream truck man because of the color of his suit and tie. He had to make a big deal about it to his guests and then had the audience polled to reveal if they agreed with him. WHY??? It’s not a “hot topic”. He simply needed ANOTHER REASON to mug for the camera. Happens every night…live.
armandov
I don’t like Cohen either but I think Titus is making a big deal of nothing. Its true that Eddie Murphy had made lots of anti-gay statements in the past and its simply curiosity from Cohen’s part and the part of the gay community – most gay people want to know what Murphy is like now and what his attitude towards gay people has changed.
Its simply being curious. Titus wants to cover Murphys a$$ for a paycheck – fine but don’t complain that the interviewer is doing his job.