David Spade\u00a0slammed a mall\u2019s tree-lighting ceremony for omitting the word \u201cChristmas.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the Sunday episode of Spade and Dana Carvey\u2019s \u201cFly on the Wall\u201d podcast, the 61-year-old \u201cGrown Ups\u201d actor called out the organizers of a\u00a0Christmas tree-lighting ceremony\u00a0for \u201cconsciously\u201d avoiding any mention of the Christian holiday during the event.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI will say that Christmas is taking a little bit of a beating lately. It is December and I saw the other day there was a tree-lighting ceremony for the Christmas tree in some dopey mall but it said tree-lighting ceremony, and they were careful not to say the word Christmas during the whole ceremony,\u201d Spade said, without naming the mall.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d Carvey, 67, said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d Spade asked. \u201cSo it\u2019s just a tree?\u201d And you go, I would understand if you said, \u2018They\u2019re doing the tree lighting at [a certain mall] or whatever. You go, \u2018OK.\u2019\u201d \u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBut to consciously avoid that, then what is the tree for?\u201d he continued. \u201cA December to Remember? Is it a Lexus dealership? Why do we have \u2014 for the whole month? Isn\u2019t it for Christmas?\u201d<\/p>\n
Carvey pointed out that\u00a0he and Spade\u00a0knew many people who follow religions other than Christianity and added, \u201cI\u2019ve never met someone from another religious faith that was upset about a Christmas tree.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
David Spade\u00a0slammed a mall\u2019s tree-lighting ceremony for omitting the word \u201cChristmas.\u201d Paul Drinkwater\/NBC via Getty Images<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d say stop that bulls\u2014,\u201d Spade said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, \u2019cause everyone loves Santa and the tree and all the trappings,\u201d Carvey said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey like all things about it,\u201d Spade said. \u201cDon\u2019t say that word.\u201d<\/p>\n
Carvey went on to share his view that while Christmas remained a religious holiday for Christians, it has become more secular over time, especially in countries like the United States.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u2019re of faith, it\u2019s about Christianity,\u201d Carvey said. \u201cBut I think at this point in America, it\u2019s just Christmas. It\u2019s a fun holiday.\u201d<\/p>\n
Spade called out the organizers of a\u00a0Christmas tree-lighting ceremony\u00a0for \u201cconsciously\u201d avoiding any mention of the Christian holiday during the event.\u00a0 Getty Images for ABA<\/p>\n
However, Carvey noted that he was opposed to the restriction of speech.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t like the thought police,\u201d\u00a0\u201cThe Dana Carvey Show\u201d alum\u00a0said. \u201cI don\u2019t like to have words I can\u2019t use.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t like the anti-Christian feel because Christmas to me wasn\u2019t really about that because\u00a0I am Christian,\u201d Spade said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
While Carvey described Spade as a \u201csecular\u201d and \u201clapsed\u201d Christian, the \u201cJoe Dirt\u201d star said he was \u201cjust more spiritual.\u201d<\/p>\n
Spade expressed his opinion that the Christian faith is treated differently than other religions.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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\u201cLike is this where we get the hammer? You can\u2019t say that about anyone else,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re taking a beating\u00a0down in Africa,\u201d he continued. \u201cIt\u2019s like this is not the year to be Christian. I will tell you that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s for sure,\u201d Carvey said. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of that going on.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cA lot of that, it\u2019s tough,\u201d Spade agreed.<\/p>\n
Humanitarian groups have increasingly raised concerns about the persecution of Christians in parts of Africa.\u00a0<\/p>\n
David Spade and Jim Carrey.<\/p>\n
A June 2025 report by International Christian Concern (ICC) documented a \u201cdisturbing rise\u201d in violence against Christians across several African countries, particularly Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Kenya, including killings, abductions, massacres, and forced displacements.<\/p>\n
President Donald Trump announced in late October that he was designating Nigeria as a \u201ccountry of particular concern,\u201d citing the widespread killings of Christians in the West African nation. Pope Leo XIV, the US State Department and celebrities including\u00a0Nicki Minaj\u00a0have also condemned recent massacres in Nigeria.<\/p>\n
After highlighting Christian persecution in Africa, Spade redirected the conversation back to the Christmas snub at the recent tree lighting.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can call it a Christmas tree,\u201d Spade said. \u201cI\u2019m still going to go to these malls. I still don\u2019t want to offend people by saying it. But there\u2019s so many things with different religions. You\u2019re not allowed to slam someone else\u2019s religion.\u201d<\/p>\n
The city of Portland has sparked outrage after stripping its Christmas tree of its name, referring to it only as \u201cthe tree\u201d during its lighting ceremony. KATU News<\/p>\n
Spade\u2019s remarks come after the city of\u00a0Portland came under fire\u00a0for again hosting its annual tree-lighting ceremony and nixing any use of the word \u201cChristmas.\u201d<\/p>\n
The event, held on Nov. 28, was decked out in Christmas lights, a traditionally decorated tree and a visit from Santa Claus, but did not promote any mention of Christmas.\u00a0<\/p>\n