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30 Years Ago, David Spade Made an ‘SNL’ Joke About Eddie Murphy That Haunted Him for Decades

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03.07.2026

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30 Years Ago, David Spade Made an ‘SNL’ Joke About Eddie Murphy That Haunted Him for Decades

After Spade joked that Murphy was a “falling star,” Murphy angrily confronted him and stayed away from SNL for years.

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On December 9, 1995, during an episode of Saturday Night Live, David Spade told a joke that would haunt him for many years. During a year-in-review edition of Hollywood Minute, Spade took shots at various celebrities as their pictures were shown behind him. When fellow SNL legend Eddie Murphy’s photo appeared, Spade quipped, “Look, children, it’s a falling star. Make a wish,” earning a mixed reaction from the crowd.

You can take a look at the segment in question right here:

The following Monday, Spade got a call from Murphy at the SNL offices and quickly began to panic. Spade tried his best to duck the call, but Murphy knew he was there and insisted that Spade call him back before he drove in........

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