In a surprising revelation, actor and comedian David Spade has publicly discussed the origins and resolution of his nearly 25-year-long feud with comedy legend Eddie Murphy. The rift, which began with a single joke on Saturday Night Live (SNL), was only recently mended.
The Joke That Started It All
Speaking on the Fly on the Wall podcast with Dana Carvey, Spade recalled the incident from the mid-1990s. As a new cast member on SNL's "Weekend Update" segment, he made a habit of poking fun at celebrities. In 1995, he targeted Eddie Murphy's then-recent film, Vampire in Brooklyn.
Spade referred to the movie as "a falling star" and added, "Make a wish." The quip, which passed through the show's standard approval process, had unintended and severe consequences. "It was weird going from being a super fan to having him hate me overnight," Spade admitted. He confessed to feeling guilty, especially since Murphy was a personal hero.
Murphy's Deep Hurt and Confrontation
The fallout was immediate and profound. Eddie Murphy later confronted Spade directly about the joke. Spade, acknowledging Murphy's valid points, chose not to fight back. However, as Murphy explained in the Netflix documentary Being Eddie, his anger was directed more at the institution of SNL than at Spade personally.
Murphy described the experience as deeply painful, comparing it to "your alma mater taking a shot at you." He emphasized that the joke, having been approved by the show's hierarchy, felt like a collective betrayal. "That's what y'all think of me? That's why I didn't go back for years," Murphy stated, explaining his long absence from the SNL stage.
Reconciliation and Moving Forward
Despite the decades of tension, the two comedy giants have finally buried the hatchet. A significant step towards reconciliation occurred when Eddie Murphy returned to host SNL in 2019, publicly stating the issue was in the past. "I don't have no smoke with no David Spade," Murphy declared at the time.
Spade confirmed the peace treaty, noting they recently spoke cordially at the SNL 50th anniversary celebration earlier this year. "I've seen him once or twice," Spade shared on the podcast. "And then I saw him at the 50th and we talked a little bit and everything's fine. And then they asked him about it and he said, 'Yeah, we're all good.' So yeah, we're all good."
The story serves as a notable chapter in comedy history, highlighting how a moment of on-screen ribbing can lead to real-world friction, even between idols and their admirers, and how time can ultimately heal old wounds.
