Eddie Murphy

Say hello to Maxton.

Sources tell Us Weekly that Eddie Murphy and Toni Braxton are not merely dating, but are "very into each other." The relationship reportedly got underway four months ago.

Murphy (who has nine children by five women) and Braxton (who has two kids with ex Keri Lewis) are "serious" this insider adds, as the Tower Heist star cheered on the singer backstage at her February 19 concert in Los Angeles.

Murphy was linked in the 1980s to Whitney Houston, but more recently dated Melanie Brown and Tracey Edmonds, exchanging vows in 2008 with the latter in a "symbolic" ceremony that was never made legal.

[Photos: WENN.com]

The Internet is abuzz with reports that Eddie Murphy is dead. He is not.

We repeat: Twitter is not a news source. Eddie Murphy is 100% alive.

Sources close to the Tower Heist star have already debunked the hoax, just the latest in a long line of online pranks designed to fake kill a star for some reason.

The frenzy was initially sparked by MediaFetcher (dot) com, then spread like wildfire thanks to Twitter. This site is believed to be responsible for spinning bogus stories about other numerous celebrities they claim are dead but are not.

The Bon Jovi death hoax was a different guy, but Cher, Charlie Sheen, TooShort, The Rock, Kevin Bacon, Luke Perry, Jack Black, Will Smith, Jaden Smith, Tom Green, Tiger Woods, George Clooney and others have fallen victim of late.

All are still alive and kicking. Thank goodness.

[Photo: WENN.com]

Next year's Oscar nominations have yet to be announced, but this has: Eddie Murphy has stepped down as host of the 84th Academy Awards, according to reports.

The actor's announcement comes one day after Tower Heist director Brett Ratner resigned as producer of the program. The 50-year-old said in a statement:

"First and foremost, I want to say I completely understand and support each party's decision with regard to a change of producers for this year's Academy Awards."

Murphy went on to say: "I was truly looking forward to being a part of the show that our production team and writers were just starting to develop, but I'm sure that the new production team and host will do an equally great job."

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President Tom Sherak respected Murphy's decision, saying in a statement: "I appreciate how Eddie feels about losing his creative partner, Brett Ratner, and we all wish him well."

Ratner recently came under serious fire for saying "rehearsal is for fags" while promoting Tower Heist. The controversial director also spoke openly about his sex life with actress Olivia Munn, who he claimed to "bang a few times."

And that brings you up to speed.

The rumor has become fact: Eddie Murphy will host the 20120 Academy Awards.

"Eddie is a comedic genius, one of the greatest and most influential live performers ever," says Brett Ratner, who will produce the telecast and who directs Murphy in Tower Heist. "With his love of movies, history of crafting unforgettable characters and his iconic performances – especially on stage – I know he will bring excitement, spontaneity and tremendous heart to the show Don and I want to produce in February."

Murphy was nominated for an Oscar in 2006 for Dreamgirls.

Think he'll make a good host?

Say this for Eddie Murphy: he couldn't be worse than last year's hosts.

Sources tell Deadline that the Academy Awards braintrust will meet this Tuesday to consider the man or woman who will emcee Hollywood's biggest night in 2012 and producer Brett Ratner will start with one name atop his list: Murphy.

“Nobody knows movies better or is a bigger cinephile than Eddie," a source says. "Eddie can quote scenes from every single movie word for word. He can bring all that experience to hosting."

Oprah has also reportedly been under consideration.

Do you wanna see Eddie Murphy host the Oscars?

Take this rumor with a grain of salt much bigger than the box office haul of any Eddie Murphy movie over the last decade.

Great Britain's The Sun claims the comedian has agreed to play The Riddler in the next Batman film, which is scheduled for a 2010 release under the tentative name Gotham.

The newspaper also says Rachel Weisz will play Catwoman, while Shia LaBeouf will portray Robin to Christian Bale's Batman in the sequel to The Dark Knight.

There are two reasons why these rumors are more bogus than the Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag's wedding:

1. Murphy has not starred in a hit movie since 2000's Nutty Professor II: The Klumps;
2. The character of Robin is universally ridiculed; 1997's Batman & Robin, with Chris O'Donnell as the iconic sidekick, is considered the worst film in the franchise. By far.

Do you think Eddie Murphy would make a good Riddler?

Eddie Murphy and Tracey Edmonds are doing their best impression of Pamela Anderson and Rick Salomon.

Just two weeks after their wedding, the couple has split, Access Hollywood states.

The couple tied the knot on New Year's Day on a private island near Bora Bora in French Polynesia - but the ceremony was a spiritual one; the couple planned on having a legally binding marriage upon returning to the U.S.

But that never took place. Which perhaps could have been a sign that this union was never meant to be.

Murphy's rep issued the following statement::

"After much consideration and discussion, we have jointly decided that we will forego having a legal ceremony as it is not necessary to define our relationship further.

While the recent symbolic union in Bora Bora was representative of our deep love, friendship and respect that we have for one another on a spiritual level, we have decided to remain friends."

Just pronounced husband and wife, Tracey Edmonds and Eddie Murphy share a smooch during their wedding ceremony on an island in French Polynesia.

"It was a very passionate kiss," Edmonds said. "People were shouting we should get our own private island!"

Later that night, we're guessing Tracey and Eddie consummated the marriage. We just hope they were more careful than Avril Lavigne and Deryck Whibley.

Lord knows we don't need any more Murphy spawns running around.

The Hollywood Gossip was one of the first sites to break the story of Eddie Murphy and Tracey Edmonds getting married.

And here's proof of the event. Don't they make an adorable couple?

Perhaps Lindsay Lohan and Eduardo Costa - or Dario Faiella or Alessandro Di Nunzio - will one day follow in the marital footsteps of Murphy and Edmonds.

The first celebrity wedding of the year is in the books.

Eddie Murphy and Tracey Edmonds were married on New Year's Day on a private island off Bora Bora in French Polynesia in front of 25 friends and family.

In a sunset ceremony on the beach Tuesday, Tracy Edmonds walked barefoot down the aisle to Gladys Knight's "Makings of You." The bride wore a custom-designed and form-fitting dress, while Murphy wore a cream suit and vest.

Among the guests were best man Johnny Gill, maid of honor Nicole Avant, matron of honor Julie Lev, as well as Edmonds' parents Jacqueline and George, her brother Michael, and Eddie Murphy's mother Lillian and brother Vernon.

Congratulations, Tracey Edmonds and Eddie Murphy!

Edmonds, 40, gave her bridesmaids gold and diamond earrings from XIV Karats in Beverly Hills, and Murphy, 46, gave his groomsmen D. Atlantis watches.

The wonderful wedding was designed by wedding coordinator Colin Cowie, who created a gazebo on the beach made out of 6,000 shells for the ceremony.

Eddie Murphy and Tracey Edmonds started dating last fall and were engaged in July. Prior to that, he was in a long-term relationship with Melanie Brown.