Eddie Murphy recently opened up about the infamous joke on “Saturday Night Live” (SNL) that sparked a long-standing feud with fellow comedian David Spade. The incident dates back to 1995 when Spade, during his “Hollywood Minute” segment on SNL, made a quip about Murphy’s career. At the time, Murphy had experienced a couple of box office flops, including “Vampire in Brooklyn.” Spade’s joke, “Look, kids, a falling star! Quick, make a wish,” was a jab at Murphy’s declining movie success.
Murphy, a former SNL cast member himself, was deeply hurt by the joke. In a recent interview with the New York Times, he expressed his feelings about the incident. “When David Spade said that s**t about my career on SNL, it was like: ‘Yo, it’s in-house! I’m one of the family, and you’re f**king with me like that? It hurt my feelings.’” Murphy felt particularly betrayed because he considered himself a significant part of the SNL legacy, having been a cast member from 1980 to 1984 and contributing to some of the show’s most memorable moments.
The joke not only hurt Murphy’s feelings but also led to a prolonged period of animosity between the two comedians. Murphy explained, “This is Saturday Night Live. I’m the biggest thing that ever came off that show. Now you got somebody from the cast making a crack about my career?” He went on to say that he felt the joke was a “cheap shot” and even considered it “kind of racist.”
The impact of the joke was so profound that Murphy avoided appearing on SNL for decades. He made a brief appearance during the show’s 40th-anniversary episode in 2015, but it wasn’t until much later that he fully reconciled with the show and its cast. Murphy’s return to SNL was a significant moment, marking the end of a long-standing grudge.
David Spade, for his part, has also reflected on the incident. In his 2015 memoir “Almost Interesting,” Spade acknowledged the potential harm his joke could have caused. “A jab like the one I had directed at Eddie can be the thing that starts to turn public opinion against someone. I know for a fact that I can’t take it when it comes my way. I’ve come to see Eddie’s point on this one.”
Spade recounted the immediate aftermath of the joke, describing how he was terrified when he learned that Murphy wanted to speak with him. “My heart stopped. WTF? ‘Um, seriously?’ I squeaked. ‘Yes, line two.’ ‘Ummmmmmmmm. I’m not here, take a message.’” Spade’s fear was palpable as he tried to avoid the confrontation, but Murphy was persistent. Eventually, Spade had no choice but to take the call, during which Murphy expressed his anger in no uncertain terms.
The tension between the two comedians lingered for years. Spade recalled a particularly nerve-wracking encounter at a Rolling Stones concert in Las Vegas, where he spotted Murphy in the crowd. “Oh fuck. My kryptonite was in the house. Suddenly . . . feeling . . . weak . . . I didn’t want to get beat up in front of the Stones. It was going to be Altamont all over again.”
Despite the initial animosity, time has healed some of the wounds. Murphy has since stated that he holds no ill will towards Spade. “Worked out great,” Murphy revealed. “I’m cool with David Spade. I went back to SNL. I’m cool with everybody. It’s all love.”
The reconciliation was further cemented during a chance encounter in Beverly Hills. Spade described the moment in his memoir: “I saw a Mercedes Gullwing parked in front of Coffee Bean. A black guy walked out with a hot blond chick on his arm and got in the car. As he started to pull out of the parking lot, I realized it was Ed Murphy. My old-school fear came crashing back. Should I say something? We hadn’t spoken in almost twenty years at this point. Before I knew it, Murphy had spotted me through the windshield. Maybe he thought I was Miley Cyrus. Either way, for some reason I gave a half wave and quick nod. It was my equivalent of the white flag.”
Murphy responded positively, rolling down his window and greeting Spade. “Hey, Spade, how are you doing?” Spade replied, “Hey, Eddie. Glad we’re good.” Murphy then drove away, leaving Spade with a sense of relief and closure. “My Watergate with Eddie Murphy was over. My burden was lifted. After all those years, that stupid joke can just be that, a stupid joke. And I can go back to appreciating what a funny motherfucker he is.”
The feud between Eddie Murphy and David Spade serves as a reminder of the power of words and the impact they can have, even among comedians who make a living out of humor. While the joke initially caused a rift, both Murphy and Spade have moved past it, demonstrating that time and understanding can heal even the deepest of wounds.
Source: New York Times, David Spade’s “Almost Interesting”
