The Long Road to Forgiveness: How David Spade Finally Mended Fences with Eddie Murphy After a 25-Year Feud

Picture this: it's 1995, and David Spade, then a fresh face making waves on Saturday Night Live, finds himself unwittingly igniting a slow-burning feud with an absolute comedy icon, Eddie Murphy. Who would've thought a single quip, delivered during his popular 'Hollywood Minute' segment, could cause a quarter-century of awkwardness, guilt, and heartfelt regret?

The joke itself, believe it or not, seemed rather mild in the grand scheme of SNL's often biting humor. Spade, playing his sarcastic 'Hollywood Minute' persona, flashed a photo of Murphy and quipped, "Look, children, a falling star!" It was a jab at Murphy's career trajectory at the time, which, let's be honest, had seen a few less stellar films after his incredible run in the 80s. But what Spade didn't fully grasp was just how deeply that comment would cut the notoriously private and immensely proud Murphy.

Murphy, it turned out, was genuinely hurt, feeling disrespected by a show he had single-handedly resurrected from the brink of cancellation in the early 80s. He promptly called SNL creator Lorne Michaels, expressing his profound displeasure and, in essence, putting a decades-long freeze on any association with the show. For Murphy, it wasn't just a joke; it was a betrayal from a place he once called home, a slight from a comedian he likely didn't feel had earned the right to criticize him.

For David Spade, the immediate aftermath was a heavy dose of regret. He realized the gravity of his words and, over the next two and a half decades, tried repeatedly to make amends. He sent gifts, he apologized whenever their paths crossed at industry events, sometimes even from afar. You can just imagine the awkwardness – trying to catch the eye of someone you've offended, hoping for a nod, a brief word, anything that signaled the ice might be thawing. But for a long, long time, Murphy remained distant, and that particular slight lingered.

Then, finally, after twenty-five years of carrying that unspoken burden, a breakthrough. Spade recounted that he received a completely unexpected call from Murphy himself. It seems Murphy had caught one of Spade's comedy specials and, to Spade's immense surprise and relief, actually called him to acknowledge the old joke. "He basically said, 'I know that was a long time ago. I just want to let you know that was s—ty,'" Spade recalled, the honesty clearly appreciated.

That conversation, raw and direct as it was, paved the way for a true reconciliation. Murphy, extending an olive branch, invited Spade to his annual holiday party. It was there, amidst the festive atmosphere, that they finally had a proper, heartfelt chat. Murphy shared his perspective, explaining why the joke had stung so much. And Spade, no doubt, offered a sincere, unburdening apology. The weight, Spade admitted, was lifted from his shoulders, a decades-long knot finally untangled.

It's a testament, really, to the lingering power of words, even in the fast-paced world of comedy. But more importantly, it's a beautiful example of how, with time, sincerity, and perhaps a touch of mutual respect, even the deepest-seated grudges can eventually give way to forgiveness and understanding. For David Spade, it was a quarter-century quest, culminating in a simple, profound moment of peace with a comedy legend.