David Spade Shares How an ‘SNL’ Joke Affected His Friendship with Eddie Murphy

Eddie Murphy and David Spade Reconcile After 30-Year Rift Over ‘Vampire in Brooklyn’

After three decades, Eddie Murphy has resolved his longstanding feud with Saturday Night Live and comedian David Spade stemming from the 1995 film Vampire in Brooklyn. Spade recently addressed their reconciled relationship, stating that he and Murphy are "all good" following their reunion during the SNL 50th Anniversary Special last year.

Spade, known for his role on SNL, acknowledged that a joke he made about Murphy’s film initially created tension between them. "It was weird going from being a super fan to having him hate me overnight," Spade shared on his podcast, Fly on the Wall, co-hosted with Dana Carvey. He reflected on the last 25 years of trying to mend their relationship.

"We had some bumps in the road along the way," he admitted. Recalling his early days on SNL, Spade explained that he made a joke about Murphy during his Weekend Update segment, which didn’t sit well with the comedian. "He called me and we had it out," Spade said, adding that Murphy was the one who expressed his displeasure, while he did not retaliate due to feelings of guilt.

In an earlier segment from the SNL episode aired on December 9, 1995, Spade poked fun at several celebrities including Murphy. "Look, children, it’s a falling star. Make a wish," he quipped, referring to the film’s lack of success.

Although Spade has met Murphy a few times since that infamous joke, their interactions became more amicable during SNL‘s 25th Anniversary Special in February. Last year, Murphy described Spade’s joke as "a cheap shot" and "racist," adding that "it was personal." However, he has since expressed contentment with their current relationship, saying, "In the long run, it’s all good. Worked out great."

Murphy also indicated that he is on friendly terms with SNL creator Lorne Michaels, stating, "I’m cool with David Spade. Cool with Lorne Michaels. I went back to SNL. I’m cool with everybody. It’s all love."

Following his original stint as a cast member from 1980 to 1984, Murphy officially reconciled with SNL after hosting in 2019, which garnered him his first Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series.