Eddie Murphy scandal
At approximately 4:55 a.m. on May 2, 1997, Los Angeles police officers followed and pulled over a Toyota land cruiser after witnessing Seiuli enter the vehicle. It was then discovered that the driver was comic actor Eddie Murphy. After interrogating Murphy for about 30 minutes, he was released without charges when the investigation revealed that no illegal activity had occurred. However, due to violating an earlier prostitution conviction ruling, Seiuli was arrested.
in a screenshot from Hard Copy TV in 1997
in a screenshot from Hard Copy TV in 1997
By sunrise, the incident had become a publicized dispute that headlined the front covers of tabloid magazines and entertainment shows. Seiuli's bail was set at $15, 000 and was paid by the tabloid The National Enquirer in exchange for exclusive details about her encounter with the comedian.
Increased coverage and controversy ensued when a magazine photographer produced a tape of the incident, and it aired nationally on Hard Copy TV. Talk show host Jay Leno and peers of Eddie Murphy from the TV show Saturday Night Live both featured comical reenactments of the conflict. Numerous transsexuals appeared in tabloids and on talk shows to provide accounts of alleged sexual encounters with Murphy. However, they later recanted their accounts, allegedly due to bribery from Murphy's publicists.
The tabloid coverage enraged Murphy and he filed $5 million lawsuits against The National Enquirer and The Globe for slander and invasion of privacy. These suits were later dropped after an unspecified settlement. He also filed suit against Ioane Seiuli, who claimed to be a relative of Atisone Seiuli and gave false reports to the New York Times.
Transsexual author Candace Watkins published an obscure book titled "In the Closet with Eddie Murphy" that featured stories from Seiuli and other transsexuals who claimed to have had sexual encounters with Murphy.
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