Eddie Murphy Missed Out On “We Are The World” Appearance Because He Wanted To Record “Party All The Time”

The comedian and actor recounted the moment while speaking with Jimmy Kimmel.

Eddie Murphy could’ve been on “We Are the World,” the charity single written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie that featured a who’s who of popular ’80s artists. But instead, he wanted to work on his song “Party All the Time.”

READ: Eddie Murphy Expresses Remorse For “Ignorant” Jokes In ‘Raw’ & ‘Delirious’

During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Murphy was asked if he turned down the opportunity to be a part of the “We Are the World” song and video.

“I didn’t turn it down, I was doing something else,” Murphy said. “I was at Stevie Wonder’s studio and I was working on music. He was like, ‘Hey, come over. We’re doing this thing.’ And I was like, ‘Hey man, I’m recording the song, ‘Party All the Time.'”

“Then I realized afterward what it was and I felt like an idiot,” he added, ultimately learning that what Stevie Wonder had wanted him to be a part of was “We Are the World.”

Elsewhere during his Kimmel appearance, Murphy also talks about his return to standup comedy, and if he’s nervous about living up to his well-earned status as one of the greatest comedians of all time.

“I don’t be worrying about stuff like that,” Murphy said. “I tend to think constructively. If I’m doing something creative, I’m thinking about making it as funny as possible because I want to shut shit down when I do it. I don’t be thinking like, ‘Oh what’s gonna happen? What are they gonna say? Are they gonna put me on the YouTube? I don’t know, that’s just part of the world now.”

Murphy’s Netflix film, Dolemite Is My Name, is available for Netflix subscribers to stream today (October 25).