Murphy, accepting the Cecil B. DeMille Award, gave a speech where he gave advice to up-and-coming actors. In his speech, he proposed three tips to become successful, which appeared to be the set-up for his Will Smith joke.

“Pay your taxes, mind your business, and keep Will Smith’s wife’s name out your f*cking mouth!” Murphy said. 

Last year, Will Smith slapped Chris Rock after the comedian joked about Jada Pinkett-Smith’s alopecia condition, which causes hair loss. During the 2022 Oscars, Smith angrily told Chris Rock to — “Keep my wife’s name out your f”cking mouth!” 

Will Smith later apologized to Chris Rock in a video on his social media.

Comedian Kevin Hart also joked about the matter by gifting Chris Rock a goat named “Will Smith” after performing a comedy show in New York City.

Last August, comedian Chris Rock turned down the opportunity to host the 2023 Oscars after being infamously slapped by Will Smith at last year’s Oscars. Chris Rock joked at a comedy show saying his return to the show would be like O.J. Simpson’s ex-wife returning to the same restaurant she was at before being murdered.