Eddie Murphy Calls His Longtime Fiancée Paige Butcher His Wife During New Interview

The couple, who started dating in 2012, got engaged six years later

Paige Butcher and Eddie Murphy at the "Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F" World Premiere held at The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing on June 20, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California
Eddie Murphy and Paige Butcher in 2024. Photo:

Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty

Eddie Murphy has lots of love for Paige Butcher.

While appearing on The New York Times' The Interview podcast, the comedian referred to his fiancée as his wife during two separate instances. Murphy, 63, and Butcher, 44, started dating in 2012 and got engaged in 2018. They share an 8-year-old daughter, Izzy Oona, and a 5-year-old son, Max Charles.

At one point during the podcast episode, David Marchese and Murphy discussed Marlon Brando wanting to meet Murphy when he was an up-and-coming actor at about 20 years old.

Now, Murphy said he is "so out of touch" with what is considered hip and said he wouldn't be able to recognize younger talent.

"I used to be so hip, I used to know who everybody was, and now there's just so much stuff. [I] ask my wife, 'Who's this person?' " Murphy said, adding that he doesn't "even know what's going on."

A representative for Murphy did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment about Murphy and Butcher's marital status.

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 10: 80th Annual GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS -- Pictured: (l-r) Eddie Murphy and Paige Butcher arrive to the 80th Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California
Eddie Murphy and Paige Butcher in 2023.

Christopher Polk/NBC/NBC via Getty

Elsewhere in the podcast interview, Murphy spoke about what television shows he'll watch with his partner. "I watch every night at six o'clock when I eat dinner, watch Steve Harvey and Family Feud and on Tuesdays I watch The Masked Singer," he said.

"My wife and I, we watch all those shows with singing competitions and that kind of stuff," he added, also noting that he watched "all of the Golden Bachelor" and had a relatable reaction to its outcome.

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Less than two weeks before the podcast episode dropped, Murphy was spotted wearing a large ring on the red carpet during the Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F premiere.

The Shrek actor has worn the piece of jewelry to previous events as well, including the Golden Globes in 2020 and 2023.

Eddie Murphy attends the Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F World Premiere at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on June 20, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California.
Eddie Murphy in 2024.

Emma McIntyre/Getty

The Dreamgirls actor was previously married to Nicole Mitchell from 1993 until 2005. Together they share Bria, 34, Myles Mitchell, 31, Shayne Audra, 29, Zola Ivy, 24, and Bella Zahra, 21.

He previously dated Paulette McNeely, and they share son Eric, 34. While dating Tamara Hood, he welcomed son Christian, 33. The comedian also shares Angel Iris, 17, with ex-girlfriend and former Spice Girl Mel B.

Murphy was also married to Tracey Edmonds for two weeks in 2008.

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The father of 10 previously told PEOPLE what it's like celebrating the holiday season with all of his children.

"All the traditional things that everybody does, we do that," Murphy said in November 2023.

"We have a lot of kids and have a lot of family. And it's just the buzz in the house — it's food, cooking and everybody," the Daddy Day Care star continued. "I love the Christmas season."

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