Eddie Murphy recently revealed that he was hit with several lawsuits after Coming to America was released. The comedy legend said that several people sued him, claiming that Prince Akeem was inspired by them.
Appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Murphy recalled the litigation that was levied at one of his most memorable films.
“There are a lot of people who claim, ‘Prince Akeem was based on me,’ but you said that the story was based on you, on your personal life,” Kimmel said.
“So many people came out that said they were the real [Prince Akeem]. I got sued by all these different people,” Murphy laughed. “They were like, ‘I was the real king from Africa.’ And I would be out, and African people would come to me, ‘Eddie, that’s my life, you stole it from me. That’s me, Eddie.’”
According to Complex, Murphy was named in a lawsuit from Washington Post columnist Art Buchwald, who sued Paramount Pictures in 1988, saying Coming to America was based on his story.” Eventually, “the lawsuit was settled, with Buchwald and a co-plaintiff receiving $1 million.’
Also, Oman Oba Adele Mouftaou, a real African Prince, sued Paramount claiming the film was based on his life. The suit was dismissed.
As the conversation went on, Kimmel asked Murphy about the fun he had in the ’80s without drinking or doing drugs.
“You said nobody had more fun than you in the ‘80s, but you were not drinking or doing drugs,” Kimmel stated.
“Back then, it was no crack yet, there was no AIDs, it was innocent,” Murphy explained.
Murphy then recalled being offered some cocaine by John Belushi and Robin Williams.
“They put some blow on the table, and I’m standing there [between] two heroes,” Murphy said. “I was just not with it.”