Eddie Murphy and David Spade End Decades-Long SNL Feud

Comedians David Spade and Eddie Murphy have finally reconciled. Their feud lasted nearly 25 years. It started with a single joke on Saturday Night Live in 1995.

The conflict stemmed from a joke Spade made about Murphy’s film career. According to reports, Murphy felt betrayed by the show itself. Their recent reunion at the SNL 50th-anniversary special has mended the relationship.

The Joke That Started It All

David Spade made the infamous joke in 1995. He was hosting the “Weekend Update” segment. Spade commented on Eddie Murphy’s movie Vampire in Brooklyn, which was a box-office disappointment.

Spade held up a photo of Murphy. He said, “Look children, it’s a falling star. Make a wish.” The joke was written and approved through the show’s standard channels. However, Murphy took deep personal offense to the public jab from a fellow cast member.

The incident caused a major rift. Murphy refused to return to SNL for many years afterwards. He felt the joke symbolized a lack of respect from the institution that launched his career.

A Long Road to Reconciliation

The path to mending fences was slow. In a recent podcast, Spade described trying to “win him back” for 25 years. He said he went from being Murphy’s “super fan” to being hated overnight.

Murphy addressed the feud in his Netflix documentary, Being Eddie. He explained his anger was directed more at SNL than at Spade personally. Murphy felt the show’s approval of the joke was a betrayal.

The turning point came at the SNL50 anniversary event earlier this year. The two comedians spoke and cleared the air. Murphy has since publicly confirmed that they are “all good” now.

The resolution of this decades-old SNL feud closes a notable chapter in comedy history. It highlights how even legendary figures can harbor long-standing professional grievances before finding common ground.

Info at your fingertips

What was David Spade’s joke about?

During a 1995 “Weekend Update,” Spade showed a photo of Eddie Murphy. He made a quip referring to Murphy as a “falling star” following the poor performance of the film *Vampire in Brooklyn*.

How did Eddie Murphy react initially?

Murphy was deeply offended and felt betrayed by *SNL*. He declined to return to the show for many years, as he discussed in his recent documentary. His anger was more at the show’s system than Spade alone.

When did they finally make up?

The two comedians reconciled at the *Saturday Night Live* 50th-anniversary special earlier this year. Spade confirmed they spoke there and that Murphy has since said everything is fine between them.

Did this affect Eddie Murphy’s SNL appearances?

Yes. Murphy did not host *SNL* again until 2019, a gap of over 30 years. His 2019 hosting stint was highly celebrated and even won him a Primetime Emmy Award.

What did Spade say about the feud recently?

On his podcast, Spade said it was “weird” to have his hero hate him overnight. He expressed relief that their long rift is now over after nearly three decades.