New York actor Eddie Murphy is facing criticism online after actor Noah Wyle revealed what Murphy told him when he was a child.
Noah Wyle is an actor, writer, and producer known for his work across television and film. He is also recognized for portraying Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch in HBO’s The Pitt. Throughout his career, Wyle has appeared in numerous productions, including Falling Skies and The Librarian franchise, and has won multiple Emmy Awards, including for his performance in The Pitt.
During a recent appearance on Amy Poehler’s Good Hang podcast, Wyle recalled an encounter with Murphy from his childhood. He explained that he had approached the actor to ask for an autograph, but Murphy allegedly responded with an expletive.
“I met Eddie once when I was a kid. I asked him for his autograph, and I said, ‘I really like you on ‘SNL.’ And he goes, ‘What are you doing up that late?’ And I said, ‘Can I have your autograph?’ He goes, ‘[Expletive] off, man,’” Wyle said, according to Variety. The experience influenced how he treats young fans today. “I always sign an autograph. Whenever a 9-year-old needs an autograph from me, I sign that so fast,” he added.
The encounter left such a lasting impression on Wyle that his children even knew the story. In fact, his daughter came up with a special birthday surprise for him. “So, I’ve told this story in my house and last year for my birthday, my daughter didn’t know what to get me. My 10-year-old daughter printed up a picture of Eddie Murphy and then wrote on it, ‘Dear Noah, you’re a great kid, Eddie Murphy.’ And she spelled Eddie E-d–d-y,” Wyle said.
He then added, “And I have it framed in my office. It’s the greatest gift that my 10-year-old thought, ‘You know what?’ And then she came up with the story. She’s like, ‘Dad, you’re never going to believe who mom and I saw yesterday. Eddie Murphy. And we got what you’ve always wanted, his autograph.’” The framed picture remains a reminder of the childhood encounter and the thoughtful gift his daughter created years later.
Fans Slam New York Actor Over Alleged Comment to Noah Wyle
Many fans online criticized New York actor Eddie Murphy after hearing what he allegedly told Noah Wyle when he was a child. They felt the encounter was particularly upsetting because Wyle had approached someone he admired and was only asking for an autograph. “Don’t meet your heroes. This is actually really sad,” one person wrote.
Another pointed out how deeply the experience had stayed with Wyle, saying, “He almost certainly would’ve lost that autograph by now, but he’s remembered that story for decades.” Someone else offered a different perspective, adding, “No, MEET ALL YOUR HEROES. Keep meeting all of them until only those who are worthy remain your heroes.”
Not everyone sided with Wyle, however, as some viewers criticized him for bringing up the childhood encounter. One person questioned why the story had remained so significant to him. “The detail about his daughter feels [expletive]. How can this interaction be, like, such a top-tier trauma for him that it’s the first thing his freaking daughter thinks about when trying to make him smile on his birthday? It seems engineered to both go viral and make Eddie feel bad. And he should! But it’s been like 45 years and Noah has had all the time in the world to be on two hit medical shows and support an active genocide so what the [expletive] are we even doing talking about signing autographs for kids?” they wrote.
The story highlighted the expectations placed on celebrities to treat their fans with kindness, particularly when those fans are children. It also raised questions about whether public figures should still be held accountable for unkind behavior that happened decades ago, and how much weight those past encounters should carry today.
