Eddie Murphy Caught with Transsexual Prostitute: A Look Back at the Scandal

In a shocking turn of events, Eddie Murphy, who was four years into his marriage to Nicole Mitchell Murphy, found himself in hot water on May 2, 1997.

The actor was pulled over by police at 4:45 a.m. after picking up a transsexual prostitute named Atisone Seiuli, also known as Shalimar.

This incident occurred at a popular spot for homosexual prostitution along Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood.

At the time, the public was hungry for scandal, especially those that could potentially expose celebrities as gay.

Despite being a 36-year-old movie star, known for his roles in Beverly Hills Cop and Trading Places, Murphy was not arrested or charged during this encounter.

It was revealed that no illegal activity had taken place, but Seiuli, described as a “known transsexual prostitute,” was apprehended due to an outstanding prostitution warrant.

To control the damage caused by the incident, Murphy's publicist claimed that he was simply giving the prostitute a ride home.

According to his spokesperson, Murphy had a history of helping people in need.

However, this explanation did little to sway public opinion, and the comedian soon found himself the subject of ridicule and mockery.

In an effort to salvage his reputation, Murphy granted an interview to People magazine, accompanied by his lawyer Marty Singer.

He explained that his wife and children were away at the time, and he was suffering from insomnia.

To distract himself, he decided to go for a drive to buy magazines.

It was during this drive that he encountered Seiuli.

Murphy admitted that he initially believed Seiuli to be a woman and insisted that the encounter was purely coincidental.

He described the situation as embarrassing but asserted his identity as a man.

Despite the scandal, he maintained that he knew who he was and refused to let it define him.

In an attempt to further distance himself from the incident, Murphy claimed to be a secret philanthropist.

He stated that he regularly gave money to derelicts and homeless people, as well as providing financial assistance to prostitutes to help them leave the streets.

According to him, these acts were not done for publicity but out of genuine compassion.

While Murphy was trying to control the narrative, Seiuli also shared her side of the story.

The National Enquirer allegedly paid her $15,000 bail in exchange for her account.

Seiuli claimed that Murphy had approached her while she was looking for clients and offered her money to wear lingerie.

She also mentioned discussing s**ual preferences with him.

Murphy responded by suing the National Enquirer and the Globe for libel, slander, and invasion of privacy.

He sought $5 million from each publication.

Eventually, he settled with the Globe and dropped the lawsuit against the National Enquirer, although he had to cover the tabloid's legal fees.

Despite the scandal, Murphy's marriage initially remained intact.

Nicole Mitchell Murphy expressed shock at the incident but chose to stand by her husband.

They went on to have five children together before divorcing in 2005.

Rumors circulated that the scandal played a role in their separation, but no evidence confirmed this.

Following the incident, Murphy began to withdraw from the public eye.

In a recent interview, he admitted to avoiding news stories about himself for the past 20 years.

He revealed that he does not read newspapers, own a computer, use email, or engage in social media.

Last year, he welcomed his ninth child with girlfriend Paige Butcher.

Tragically, Seiuli's life took a dark turn after the scandal.

Approximately a year after her arrest with Murphy, she was found dead outside her apartment building, wearing only lingerie.

Reports suggest that she had locked herself out of her apartment and attempted to swing from the roof to her window using a towel, resulting in a fatal fall.

Despite conspiracy theories surrounding her death, no conclusive evidence exists.

Seiuli had reportedly respected Murphy's privacy and did not profit from the scandal.

She expressed her dislike for being labeled a “drag queen” by the press before her untimely passing.