'You're my brother, my friend. And my in-law,' Martin Lawrence said during "The AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Eddie Murphy" (now streaming on Netflix).Show Caption
Martin Lawrence's Netflix tribute story about being shut down for a photograph by Eddie Murphy is even funnier considering that the two stars are now, literally, family with a new shared granddaughter.Lawrence, 61, lovingly roasted his "Boomerang" co-star Murphy, 65, during "The AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Eddie Murphy" (now streaming on Netflix)."You're my brother, my friend. And my in-law brother," the sunglass-wearing Lawrence concluded from the stage as one of the final presenters of the star-studded evening, which included Chris Rock, Spike Lee, Mike Myers and Dave Chappelle.Here's the story and why it's family humor now:Lawrence talked about being a young comedian, just relocated to California, hustling through security backstage at an event to meet "my idol," "SNL" and "Raw" superstar Murphy."Eddie Murphy introduced us to comedy in rockstar fashion," said Lawrence. Maybe a little too rockstar, after Lawrence's fan approach."Eddie was leaning over so cool," Lawrence said. "I said, 'Eddie Murphy, I'm Martin Lawrence. Brother, can I take a picture with you?' Eddie looked at me so smooth and cool. He looked me in the eyes, and he said, 'No.' And my face was cracked."Murphy, sitting next to his wife Paige Butcher in the audience of Los Angeles' Dolby Theater, laughed and clapped at Lawrence's story, which featured the young comic settling for a photo with "Raw" director Robert Townsend."Eddie, you know I love you, because now I can get all the pictures I want with him," Lawrence continued. "Because we're in-laws now. Ain't that right, Eddie?"Murphy and Lawrence are in-laws with a grandchildThe two have collaborated on projects, including the 1992 comedy "Boomerang" and the 1999 dramatic comedy "Life." And they're related.Murphy's son, Eric, and Lawrence's daughter, Jasmin, were married two years ago. Before the AFI event in April, Murphy confirmed that he and Lawrence were grandparents to the young couple's first child, Ari Skye."They just had a baby girl," Murphy told E! News on the red carpet. "They just had her two weeks ago, or a week ago. Yeah, Ari Skye."Who is Eddie Murphy's family?Murphy first became a father with Eric in 1989 (with his then-girlfriend Paulette McNeely). Murphy has added nine more children from four relationships — including two with his wife, Butcher, 46, with whom he tied the knot in July 2024. Murphy has four grandchildren.The superstar reflected on his many blessings when he took the AFI stage to accept his lifetime award, looking at his family table prominently placed in the audience."I just had my first grandson, and my third granddaughter, and I just turned 65," Murphy said. "I feel like it's raining blessings on me this month, and to get this award and still look like myself. Because sometimes they wait until you're really old."The "Beverly Hills Cop" star got emotional."Just looking out and seeing all my family, all my kids, my beautiful wife, seeing all my different people that I worked with, it's just really filled up," said Murphy.
