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Teachers called 'true heroes' after repelling grizzly bear that attacked school group, injuring 11
Teachers fended off a grizzly bear that attacked a school group walking along a trail in British Columbia, Canada, on Thursday, officials said.
"The group had stopped along a trail near the community when a grizzly bear emerged from the forest and attacked," Insp. Kevin Van Damme of British Columbia’s Conservation Officer Service, said in an update on social media. "Teachers successfully repelled the bear using pepper spray and a bear banger."
Eleven people were injured in the attack, including students in the fourth and fifth grade, according to CBC News.
Two were in critical condition, two in serious condition and the other seven were treated at the scene, the British Columbia Health Services said.
The incident happened in Bella Coola, a town more than 400 miles north of Vancouver.
The victims were taken to Bella Coola Hospital and were being transferred to Vancouver for further care, Van Damme said.
Officials were still searching for the bear as of Friday, who they believe may have been previously injured.
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"We recognize this incident is distressing for the community. We are in close contact with the Nuxalk Nation as our investigation continues. We thank them for their collaborative efforts to ensure community awareness and shared safety information," Van Damme said. "Our thoughts are with the victims and their families, and we wish them a full and speedy recovery."
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Tamara Davidson, British Columbia’s Minister of Environment and Parks, called the teachers who fought off the bear "true heroes," adding that they were well-prepared, according to the Guardian.
Man fatally shot, woman and children in critical condition after Arizona shootout
One man is dead, and three others were shot, including two children, after gunfire rang out Saturday afternoon in an Arizona parking lot.
The shooting, which involved a sedan and an SUV, happened at about 2:45 p.m. local time in a business parking lot in south Phoenix.
Phoenix Police Department (PPD) Sgt. Brian Bower said during a news conference there was a dispute between the two cars, which both then pulled into the parking lot.
The dispute continued in the parking lot and a physical fight ensued, according to Bower. After the fight, shots were fired.
The male suspect was alone in the sedan, Bower said. A man, woman and two children were in the SUV.
Police said multiple rounds were fired and all four people in the SUV were shot.
The man in the SUV died at the scene, according to Bower. The woman and two children who were also in the SUV were taken to the hospital and remain in critical condition.
Bower said the suspect, who has not yet been publicly identified, remained at the scene until police arrived. The man was also treated at the hospital and later taken into custody.
Police did not confirm any pending charges against the suspect, noting he was speaking with detectives.
Detectives have not yet ruled out the possibility of the incident being related to road rage or self-defense, as there is no indication the two parties knew each other, according to Bower.
The PPD did not immediately respond to additional inquiries from Fox News Digital.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
New Jersey ‘MAGA mom’ school board member allegedly targeted in 'vile' text scandal: ‘They wanted me dead’
Danielle Bellomo, a mother-of-three and New Jersey conservative school-board member, remembers the moment she first saw the text message that would change her life: "She can’t die soon enough."
"When I read those words, ‘She can’t die soon enough,' it stopped me in my tracks," Bellomo told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview. "I always knew there was disagreement politically, but I never really wrapped my head around the fact that they actually wanted me dead."
Bellomo, a Marlboro Township Board of Education member, mother of three and longtime community volunteer, is now at the center of a case that has shaken her suburban New Jersey district and sparked outrage across the parental-rights movement nationwide.
A Monmouth County judge this week extended a temporary protective order against Mitesh Gandhi, the husband of another school board member, after reading aloud a series of text messages allegedly written by him. The messages included a group chat titled, "This B---- Needs to Die."
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In one of the text threads, Gandhi allegedly referred to Bellomo as "a lying c---" and wrote, "Mission is to just let her die by herself lol."
Another viral message, part of what was dubbed "Nipplegate" in October, appeared to show former board candidate Scott Semaya typing during a public meeting, "Bellomo must be cold — her nips could cut glass right n" with a finger about to press the 'o' on his phone's keyboard.
Fox News Digital has reviewed screenshots of the alleged messages.
That image spread rapidly online last month, drawing condemnation from parents and even Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who called the comments "wrong and evil." Two candidates involved in the chat later dropped out of the school board race.
"It surprised me that it reached that level," Bellomo said. "But it didn’t surprise me that conservatives stand behind one another. The parental-rights movement is strong."
Bellomo has spent more than a decade volunteering in Marlboro Township schools. She says she ran for the board to support curriculum transparency and parental rights, not to become a target.
"I got involved in the school boards because I’m an active volunteer in our community. I’ve been involved with the parent organization that I account for going on 12 years," she said. "So I saw the school board as the next step in furthering my involvement in the community and I wanted it to enhance my children’s educational experience while they were in the K-3 district. I never imagined that it would have led to this."
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The threats changed everything inside her home.
"My son is almost a teenager. He used to go places with his friends — now he asks if someone is going to come to our house," she said. "My 8-year-old cries if she thinks I have a board meeting. My youngest keeps asking if I’m safe."
Her oldest son saw the coverage of grown men sharing lewd messages about Bellomo's body on social media.
"That was humiliating for him," she said. "He’s a middle-schooler. His friends saw it. It has affected every part of our life."
According to Bellomo, online hostility in town isn’t new, but she said she believes this has crossed into something far more serious.
"There’s always been Facebook drama, people arguing," she said. "When I realized that there wasn't just one, but two different communications and possibly, you know, who knows how many more where one communication is a group chat that was titled, 'This B---- needs to die,' and then the other is actually plans and that there's a mission and the mission is to watch me die or to have me die alone..... It really just takes it to a whole different level. It's like, this is not just normal disagreement."
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The judge overseeing the protective-order hearing refused to dismiss Gandhi’s request to end the order, allowing Bellomo’s protective order to continue through January, when a full trial will be held.
Under New Jersey law, a harassment-related protective order can be extended if a judge finds an ongoing risk to the petitioner.
But at the criminal level, Bellomo says the Marlboro Police Department referred the case to the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, which declined charges.
"I was disheartened, but not surprised," she said. "We have a Democrat prosecutor. The police recommended charges, but he didn’t follow through."
Bellomo says the most painful part has been the response, or lack thereof, from her own school district. One of the text threads, she claims, was sent during an in-person board meeting while she sat just feet away.
"Our township has policies. If someone is a threat, they’re not supposed to be allowed on school property," she said. "Our superintendent, Dr. Michael Ballone, did nothing. Our board president, Brian Cohen, did nothing. They chose not to implement the policies that are already in place."
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"The Marlboro Township Public Schools (MTPS) takes the safety and security of all board members, staff, students, and families extremely seriously," Ballone wrote in a statement to Fox News Digital.
"Administration has responded accordingly to Mrs. Bellomo's concerns, including her expressions of feeling unsafe by working with the Marlboro Police Department, the entity responsible for ensuring all Marlboro residents (including Board members) are protected. We also added to our internal safety protocols which cannot be disclosed publicly," Ballone added. "MTPS believes in maintaining a secure environment for everyone."
Two fellow board members, Annette Siewert and Valentina Mendez, were the only colleagues who stepped in, she said.
"They begged the superintendent to protect us," Bellomo said. "They stood up publicly and asked for action. Nobody else did."
Bellomo says she has already heard from dozens of women who say her situation has scared them away from public service.
"They say, ‘I could never go through what you’re going through,’" she said. "That’s heartbreaking. Local government should not require you to put your family at risk."
"I used to go to every school event, every community activity," she said. "Now I keep the kids home from things. I send my husband inside first to check if people are there who shouldn’t be. My life changed overnight."
Bellomo said she believes the threats stem from her outspoken advocacy of curriculum and parental rights, issues that have divided school boards across the country.
"I was very transparent during my campaign," she said. "I stand firmly for parental rights, local control and age-appropriate curriculum. And I’ve pushed back hard on some of the policies coming down from the state." She added, "I think that made me a target."
Despite everything, Bellomo said she has no plans to quit the board.
"I absolutely want to continue," she said. "This mission is too important. And I hope the district eventually implements the policies that are supposed to protect us."
What she wants most, she says, is to remind Americans that disagreement should never turn to calling for violence.
"We should be able to debate. We should be able to disagree," Bellomo said. "But it should never rise to the level of wanting to hurt someone. We can do better than this."
Gandhi, Semaya, Cohen and the county prosecutor’s office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
UAB players take field hours after stabbing incident leaves two hospitalized
University of Alabama at Birmingham football players took the field in Birmingham, Alabama, Saturday just hours after tragedy struck.
Two players from UAB were allegedly stabbed by a teammate at the team’s training center ahead of a game against South Florida, a university official confirmed to Fox News Digital.
Both were reported to be in stable condition at a hospital. The names of the victims and the player in custody were not released.
Saturday’s game kicked off at 3 p.m. ET, and USF cruised to a 48-18 victory.
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An online inmate inquiry from the Jefferson County Jail showed that Daniel Israel Mincey, 20, was arrested by the UAB Campus Police just after noon Saturday and is facing charges of "aggravated assault — A to M — attempted murder." The university would not confirm whether Mincey was a player involved.
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Mincey is a redshirt freshman who joined the team after one season at Kentucky, according to the UAB football roster.
There appeared to be concerns about whether the game would proceed as scheduled given the incident, but a spokesperson confirmed that the university elected to play.
"We’re grateful to report that two players injured in an incident this morning at the Football Operations Building are in stable condition. Our thoughts are with them and their families as they recover. The suspect — another player — remains in custody, and an investigation is taking place," a spokesperson said.
USF quarterback Byrum Brown threw for 353 yards and accounted for five touchdowns in the blowout win. UAB held a 10-7 lead at the end of the first quarter, but USF scored 27 unanswered points.
The highlight of Brown’s day was a 60-yard touchdown pass to Mudia Reuben, which gave USF a 24-10 lead on the first play of the third quarter. Nykahi Davenport added 117 rushing yards and a touchdown run for USF.
UAB quarterback Jalen Kitna had 230 passing yards but was also responsible for three costly interceptions.
Fox News' Paulina Dedaj and information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Rosie Huntington-Whiteley stuns in new swimsuit photos while on vacation highlighting toned abs
Former Victoria's Secret model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley is not afraid to show off her confidence and style.
In a Nov. 21 Instagram post, the 38-year-old model shared photos from her recent vacation in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with the caption, "Rio you stole my heart! ❤️."
Many of the photos show Huntington-Whiteley in a white one-piece swimsuit with a large cut-out on the left side, showing off her toned abs against lush green landscape of the city in the background.
Another image features the model standing outside in the same one-piece underneath an outdoor shower as she rinses off.
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The "Mad Max: Fury Road" star gave fans a closer look at her body with a picture of her reflection in a mirror showing her stomach and legs as she sported a black bikini bottom.
The slideshow included additional mirror selfies of the actress, including one in which she posed topless with a towel wrapped around her lower half, her arm covering her chest, and another taken from behind as she admired the view from her hotel window.
"Rosie’s photo dumps are my fav 😍," one fan wrote in the comments section. Another added, "Perfect as always😍."
In an interview with The Times in April, the former Victoria's Secret model spoke about her decision to move from Hollywood to London with her partner, actor Jason Statham.
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The two moved to London in 2020 with their son, Jack, and later welcomed their daughter, Isabella, in 2022.
"We love the schools, the education," she said "They’re growing up British with their little British accents, which was important for us, and we have a great support system here. Jay’s parents live up the road and see the kids most days. My family come to visit every six or eight weeks. And, in the summer, we go down to Devon, and our children have the same experiences running around on the farm that I had growing up, and it’s very special."
After moving to London, Huntington-Whiteley admitted it was an adjustment, saying, "For a long time I missed the sunshine and the eternal optimism of Californians. But now I love it here."
She added the schools weren't the only reason they chose to relocate. They also wanted to be closer to Statham, who she called "the human playground," while he was filming.
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"He was like, ‘I’m going to be away from you and the kids for big stretches [shooting movies]. If we move to London, I can make everything there.’ So, that was a really big reason," Huntington-Whiteley explained.
"He goes to work and comes home at the end of the day, which is pretty special for somebody in his line of work. Jason is a very involved and super-hands-on dad and such a supportive partner to me."
Anti-Israel group's website reportedly offers bounties on heads of Israeli academics worldwide: 'Nutcases'
An anti-Israel group's website is offering bounties of up to $100,000 for the murder of Israeli academics, according to reports.
The Punishment for Justice Movement not only named specific targets and prices on their heads, but also published personal information like home addresses, emails and phone numbers, The Jerusalem Post reported.
The academics who were targeted work at universities like Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv University, the Technion public research university in Haifa and even Harvard and Oxford universities and the European Organization for Nuclear Research.
Along with offering $100,000 for the killing of "special targets," $50,000 was being offered for the murder of other targets, as well as $20,000 to set fire to their homes or car, $5,000 for information about a target and $1,000 to put protest signs outside their homes.
The website, created last summer and apparently originating in the Netherlands, briefly went down Friday night but was back up Saturday, the outlet reported.
The website is written in English, according to The Times of Israel, and accuses its targets of being "criminals and collaborators with the occupation army," referring to the war in Gaza.
It also accuses the targets of being "distributors of weapons of mass destruction to the Israeli army" who are "involved in the murder of Palestinian children," The Jerusalem Post reported.
The organization claimed to have warned the targets to "abandon criminal activity" and stop working with the Israel Defense Forces but claimed they ignored the warnings. So, they are now "legitimate targets for the movement," according to the Times.
Two targeted academics told the Post they received no warning, and several of those targeted at the European Organization for Nuclear Research said they hadn’t worked on military projects, but the website creators seemed to be mixed up by the word "nuclear."
One targeted academic told the Post, "The competent government agencies should suggest more comprehensive solutions" than just taking down the website "because walking around with targets on our heads puts at risk not only us, but also our families."
However, Michael Bronstein, who teaches computer science at Oxford, told the Post he didn’t "give a damn" about the bounty on his life, calling those threatening him "nutcases."
"I was profoundly disturbed and shocked that my head was valued so cheaply. Considering my standing in the academic community, I find anything below a seven-figure highly offensive," he told the Post. "I am, however, consoled that I am at least in a good company."
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Anti-Defamation League for comment.
49ers void guaranteed money in Brandon Aiyuk's contract for 2026 season after bizarre situation: reports
It appears the San Francisco 49ers and Brandon Aiyuk are headed for a messy ending despite the veteran wide receiver signing a long-term deal with the franchise just last season.
Aiyuk, who has been out all season with a knee injury he sustained during the 2024 campaign, was expected to return at some point in 2025.
But the situation has become so strained The Athletic reports San Francisco has voided the guaranteed money in his contract for 2026, a $24.935 million option bonus.
Because of this reported void, there is now belief that Aiyuk’s time in the Bay Area could soon be coming to an end.
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The outlet reports that Aiyuk "failed to attend meetings and declined to participate in other team activities in recent months," which led to frustration within the organization.
"The 49ers, sources say, responded by voiding the guaranteed money in Aiyuk’s contract for 2026, asserting that the absences amounted to a failure to fulfill his contractual obligations," The Athletic reports.
"Aiyuk, according to multiple league sources, told NFL Players Association representatives that he did not want to fight the move via an official grievance. That would clear the way for his expected release at season’s end."
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Aiyuk signed a four-year, $120 million extension with the organization in August 2024 after a roller-coaster period of contract disputes.
However, Aiyuk tore the ACL and MCL in his right knee in October of that year, ending his season and keeping him sidelined for most of the 2025 campaign.
Given the size of the extension, it would be a surprise if Aiyuk becomes a free agent in 2026. He was the team’s first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft and had a breakout season in 2022, totaling 78 receptions for 1,015 yards and eight touchdowns.
Then, in 2023, Aiyuk cemented himself as the 49ers’ top pass catcher with 1,342 yards on 75 catches and seven touchdowns. That success led the Arizona State product to seek a new contract before the 2024 season despite having one year remaining on his rookie deal after the 49ers picked up his fifth-year option.
Now, it’s unclear whether Aiyuk will play again for San Francisco, which is making a playoff push with a 7-4 record heading into Week 12. The 49ers are still among the teams yet to have their bye week, which will come in Week 14.
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SJSU volleyball team fails to make conference tournament in first season after trans athlete scandal
It was always going to be a tough act to follow.
San Jose State University's volleyball team was eliminated from making the Mountain West Tournament with a loss Saturday to University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and finished the season under .500 with a 13-16 overall record and 8-10 in conference play.
SJSU outperformed expectations, finishing seventh in the Mountain West after being expected to finish 11th in the conference's preseason coaches poll after a controversy involving trans athlete Blaire Fleming in 2024.
Head coach Todd Kress led last year's team to the conference final but had eight wins, including the conference semifinal, awarded via forfeit. SJSU previously made the conference final with Fleming in 2022, the trans athlete's first year with the Spartans under former head coach Trent Kersten.
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The controversy involving Fleming resulted in two lawsuits during the 2024 season, a federal investigation by the U.S. Department of Education and a mass exodus of players. At least seven of the team's returning players from 2024 entered the transfer portal in December after the season ended.
The controversial 2024 season included eight forfeited matches, regular police protection, national scrutiny and internal turmoil between players and coaches.
Kress previously said the 2024 season was one of the "most difficult" of his life. Kress is 21st in NCAA women's volleyball history in wins as a head coach.
"This has been one of the most difficult seasons I’ve ever experienced, and I know this is true as well for many of our players and the staff who have been supporting us all along. Maintaining our focus on the court and ensuring the overall safety and well-being of my players amid the external noise have been my priorities," Kress said.
Kersten was the coach who recruited Fleming to SJSU as a transfer out of Coastal Carolina. Kersten then stepped down after the 2022 season and was replaced by Kress.
Former SJSU co-captain Brooke Slusser transferred to SJSU from Alabama in 2023
Then, in September 2024, Slusser joined a lawsuit against the NCAA alleging SJSU officials withheld knowledge about Fleming's birth gender from her and other players on the team. Slusser alleged she was made to share changing and sleeping spaces with Fleming without knowing that Fleming was a biological male.
Slusser, along with several other players in the Mountain West, filed a separate lawsuit against the conference and San Jose State in November 2024 over Fleming's presence. That lawsuit included testimony from former San Jose State volleyball players Alyssa Sugai and Elle Patterson alleging they were passed over for scholarships in favor of Fleming.
Assistant coach Melissa Batie-Smoose was suspended by the program in early November after she filed a Title IX complaint against the university for showing favoritism toward Fleming over the other players, especially Slusser. Batie-Smoose's complaint also included allegations of Fleming's plot to have Slusser spiked in the face.
Batie-Smoose's contract was not renewed by the school at the end of January. The coach then filed her own lawsuit against the Board of Trustees of the California State University (CSU) system. SJSU is one of 23 California-based schools that are part of the system.
Batie-Smoose told Fox News Digital that SJSU accommodated Fleming with special exceptions that were not granted to female athletes.
"Not showing up to practice with no excuses, sitting in the stands eating while practice was going on, those kind of things," Batie-Smoose said of the special exceptions reserved exclusively for Fleming.
Fleming previously responded to Batie-Smoose's claim and addressed Slusser in a social media exchange with Fox News Digital.
"The only times I showed up to practice with ‘no excuse’ and sat in the stands was when I was injured and couldn’t play. Brooke Slusser and Melissa need to get a life," Fleming said.
After the 2024 volleyball season, Slusser fled SJSU after frequent alleged harassment and threats by other students in response to her speaking out against Fleming and the program the previous fall. She returned to her parents' home in Texas to finish the school year remotely and is now working as a youth volleyball coach in North Carolina.
Fleming celebrated graduation from SJSU in a social media post in May.
The University of Nevada, Reno, which was involved in the 2024 controversy for trying to have its players compete against SJSU and Fleming despite preferring to forfeit, finished the 2025 season in 11th place with an 8-20 record, 4-14 in conference play.
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President says Chicagoans are 'chanting bring in Trump' after violent downtown riot leaves 8 shot, 1 dead
President Donald Trump on Saturday said Chicagoans are asking to "bring in Trump" amid a recent crime wave in the Democrat-run city.
At least eight teens were shot, one fatally, and multiple police officers were attacked Friday after a riot broke out in the Chicago Loop, the city's downtown central business district.
"Massive crime and rioting in the Chicago Loop area. Multiple Police Officers attacked and badly injured. 300 people rioting, 6 victims shot, one critical and one DEAD," Trump wrote Saturday in a Truth Social post.
"In the meantime, Governor Pritzker and the Low IQ Mayor of Chicago are refusing Federal Government help for a situation that could be quickly remedied," he added. "The people are chanting, BRING IN TRUMP!!!"
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The riot, which followed a Christmas tree lighting ceremony, broke out near State and Randolph streets at about 10 p.m. Friday, FOX 32 Chicago reported.
City Alderman Brian Hopkins of Chicago's 2nd Ward said 300 juveniles were rioting and attacking officers with mace and stun guns.
At least one officer was hospitalized with injuries, he confirmed.
At least six children were shot, including a 13-year-old, two 14-year-olds, a 15-year-old, a 16-year-old and a 17-year-old.
Less than an hour later, a 14-year-old boy was shot and later died at a hospital. An 18-year-old man was also wounded.
The violent weekend came days after a man with a lengthy criminal history was accused of ruthlessly setting a woman on fire while riding on a Chicago train.
Lawrence Reed, 50, who officials said "had no business being on the streets," is charged with committing a terrorist attack or other violence against a mass transportation system.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson later called the train attack an "isolated incident."
Records show Reed has been arrested at least a dozen times since 2017, with charges including felony aggravated arson and multiple instances of battery.
Despite prosecutors' request to keep him detained, a blue city judge released him back into the community with an ankle monitor.
Eddie Murphy reveals the 3 blockbuster hits he wishes he never turned down
Eddie Murphy says he has a few regrets when it comes to his film career.
In a recent interview with The Associated Press, the 64-year-old "Coming to America" star shared which movies he turned down over the course of his career he wishes he would have said agreed to.
"Yeah, there's a couple of movies. ‘Ghostbusters,’ I was supposed to do ‘Ghostbusters.' Didn’t do that. And ‘Rush Hour.’ Didn’t do that. Oh, and ‘Who Framed Roger Rabbit.''Those are my big three ‘wish I would have done’ movies."
When asked why those specific films stood out to him, Murphy said, "They were huge giant hits."
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The first "Ghostbusters" movie was released in 1984, made more than $243 million at the box office domestically and produced a 1989 sequel. "Rush Hour" had two sequels, while "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" brought in over $156 million domestically.
"Well, with 'Ghostbusters,' I did 'Beverly Hills Cop' instead. So, it was like, it was do this or that, so it worked out cool. And 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit' just sounded ridiculous to me, and I passed on it. And, afterwards, I was like, 'Oh that's f---ing amazing.'"
While he regrets not participating in those movies, his career did not suffer. He played many memorable characters in movies like "The Nutty Professor" and "Dr. Dolittle." He later received an Academy Award nomination for his work in the 2006 movie "Dreamgirls."
Murphy takes a look back at his legendary career as a comedian in the new Netflix documentary "Being Eddie," starting from his early days as a teenage comic.
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During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter earlier this month, Murphy shared that "it wasn’t going to be this type of documentary" originally, but was supposed to cover his return to stand-up comedy.
"Then COVID hit, and everything shut down," he explained. "Afterwards, I was like, ‘I’m not sure if I want to do stand-up' because I was paranoid about COVID. We worked on this thing for five, six years, and, now, coincidentally, it’s my 50th year in show business, a milestone for anybody in any business."
One of Murphy's most popular roles was as Donkey in the "Shrek" franchise. The fifth movie in the franchise is scheduled for release in 2027, 17 years since the fourth movie was released.
The new film will see the return of Cameron Diaz and Mike Myers as Fiona and Shrek and adds Zendaya as one of the couple's triplets.
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"You have a headache after a 'Shrek' session. The donkey has a lot of singing. You’re on 10, and you’re doing it over and over again. The great thing, though, is it’s appreciated. Everybody loves the movie," Murphy said.
"Nothing’s worse than working really hard on something and doing makeup and sweat and all this s---, and then you put it out, and they’d be like, "Two thumbs down." You go, "I was in the makeup chair for 50 hours."