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(CNN) - A spokesman for Bill Cosby responded to Eddie Murphy after the comedian made jokes at Cosby's expense during his opening monologue on Saturday Night Live.
Murphy compared his current situation with that of Cosby, who is serving three or 10 years in prison after being convicted in April 2018 on three counts of aggravated indecent assault for drugging and sexually assaulting a woman in his home in 2004. Earlier This month, a court of appeals in Pennsylvania confirmed the conviction.
"But if you had told me 30 years ago that it would be that boring, a father who stays at home ... and that Bill Cosby would be in jail," Murphy said with a laugh, "even I would have taken that bet."
"Who is the father of the United States now?" Murphy added, imitating Cosby's character, Cliff Huxtable, who was once referred to as the father of the United States.
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In a statement released on Sunday, Cosby spokesman Andrew Wyatt criticized Murphy for the jokes, saying it was Cosby who "broke the color barriers in the entertainment industry" for Murphy and other comedians such as Dave Chappelle and Kevin Hart could act.
Murphy's jokes were "derogatory," the statement says, adding that: "One would think that Mr. Murphy was given the freedom to leave the plantation in order to make his own decisions; but he decided to sell himself again to be a Hollywood slave. ”
Wyatt's statement seemed to accuse Murphy of perpetuating racial stereotypes by saying he was "cheating" and compared him to Stepin Fetchit, the stage name of actor Lincoln Perry, who embodied racist clichés.
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“Remember, Mr. Murphy, that Bill Cosby became legendary because he used comedy to humanize all races, religions and genders; but his attack on Mr. Cosby helps him embark on becoming bait, ”Wyat said in the statement.
"Hopefully, you can have a meeting about that conversation," the statement says, "to discuss how we can use our collective platforms to support black people instead of attacking us all."
CNN has contacted Murphy's representatives for comment, but has not received a response.
- CNN's Amir Vera, Elizabeth Joseph, Alec Snyder and Steve Forrest contributed to this report.