Eddie Murphy says Robin Williams tried to talk him out of his speech calling out the Oscars for overlooking Black stars

He told Entertainment Weekly: "I remember being with Robin Williams backstage. I was like, 'I'm gonna say this.'

"And he goes to me, like, 'But why go there?' I was like, 'Oh, you don't think it's funny?' It was more, 'Is it funny?' Rather than, 'It's controversial.'

"I was trying to be funny and say a little something, but be funny too. Have a little edge to what I said."

Robin - who died aged 63 in 2014 - was concerned the humour would be lost in the delivery.

And Eddie has admitted he was also more concerned about being "funny in the moment" than worrying about any potential backlash.

He explained: "I wasn't thinking of the ramifications of it. I was just trying to be funny in the moment and I wanted what I was saying to be relevant."

At the time, Eddie - who was awarding the Best Picture prize to The Last Emperor - told the Oscars crowd that he initially rejected the offer to present at the ceremony because "they haven't recognised Black people in motion pictures".

He added in his speech: "And I'll probably never win an Oscar for saying this, but hey, what the hey, I gotta say it.

"Actually, I might not be in any trouble 'cause the way it's been going is about every 20 years we get one, so we ain't due to about 2004.

"So by that time, this will all be blown over."

On stage, he recalled telling his manager that he would present the prize, but refused to stay silent.

He continued: "I said, 'But I just feel that we have to be recognised as a people.

"'I just want you to know I'm gonna give this award, but Black people will not ride the caboose of society, and we will not bring up the rear anymore. And I want you to recognise us.'"