Comedian Eddie Griffin has sparked conversation online after sharing his thoughts on the recent death of actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner, suggesting that something about the incident doesn’t sit right with him.
In a clip from one of Griffin’s stand-up shows that began circulating on social media, the comedian questioned the official story behind Warner’s passing, expressing disbelief that the former Cosby Show star died by drowning. Warner, best known for playing Theo Huxtable — the son of Bill Cosby’s character — died on July 20. Griffin pointed out that both Cosby’s real-life son and fictional son are now deceased, saying, “I don’t believe that man drowned. I don’t. I don’t. I don’t. But it ain’t going to fix it.”
Griffin described the circumstances surrounding Warner’s death as suspicious, noting conflicting reports about what happened that day. “They had too many different stories,” he said. “Him and his daughter were out there swimming early in the morning. How come the mama wasn’t there? That’s number one. Number two, just so happened to be a doctor on the beach.”
While acknowledging that Warner’s daughter was reportedly present at the beach during the incident, Griffin still found the situation hard to accept. “It’s just too weird,” he added, questioning why anyone would want to harm Warner, who he described as “the nicest person on earth.”
Griffin even brought a bit of dark humor to the topic, referencing his own brushes with danger: “They tried to kill me a bunch of times. You can’t go anywhere until God say it’s time for you to go.”
Shortly after Warner’s passing, Griffin issued a heartfelt statement to Variety, recalling the bond they shared while working on the 1996 sitcom Malcolm & Eddie. Although they didn’t always see eye to eye, Griffin said there was always love between them and thanked Warner for the lessons he taught him. “Rest easy, brother,” he said.
Years before his death, Malcolm-Jamal Warner reflected on his time working with Griffin during an interview with Sway in 2018. At the time, Warner admitted he didn’t have fond memories of Malcolm & Eddie, noting that it was a tough transition coming off The Cosby Show, a series that helped reshape the image of Black families on television. He said Malcolm & Eddie felt more like a traditional sitcom, and that he often struggled with what he saw as missed opportunities to push the culture forward.
Interestingly, Warner also revealed that he and Griffin didn’t get along off-camera. Despite their differences, they maintained a respectful working relationship and even prayed together before each episode. Warner attributed their tensions to their very different life experiences, but ultimately recognized that both men were trying to do their best under the circumstances. “I had to pick my battles,” Warner said, adding that even if the show didn’t live up to his hopes, he stood by the effort he made to make a difference.
Source: YouTube
