Netflix and the American Film Institute have announced that "The 51st AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Eddie Murphy" will premiere on the streaming platform on May 31, following the gala tribute held in his honor on April 18 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

Kenya Barris pointed to Eddie Murphy’s 1980s stand-up specials when trying to describe the delicate balance between gleefully explicit comedy and the need to rein it in for a wider audience.