David Spade <\/a>slammed a mall’s tree-lighting ceremony for omitting the word “Christmas.”<\/p>\n In the Sunday episode of Spade and Dana Carvey’s “Fly on the Wall” podcast, the 61-year-old “Grown Ups” actor called out the organizers of a Christmas tree-lighting ceremony<\/a> for “consciously” avoiding any mention of the Christian holiday during the event.\u00a0<\/p>\n “I 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,” Spade said, without naming the mall.<\/p>\n “No,” Carvey, 67, said.<\/p>\n DAVID SPADE TALKS ABOUT THE DANGERS OF CANCEL CULTURE FOR COMEDIANS: ‘I HOPE COMICS ARE ALLOWED TO BE COMICS’<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n “Why?” Spade asked. “So it’s just a tree?” And you go, I would understand if you said, ‘They’re doing the tree lighting at [a certain mall] or whatever. You go, \u2018OK.\u2019” \u00a0<\/p>\n “But to consciously avoid that, then what is the tree for?” he continued. “A December to Remember? Is it a Lexus dealership? Why do we have \u2014 for the whole month? Isn’t it for Christmas?”<\/p>\n The “SNL” alums discussed the Christmas holiday during the latest episode of their podcast.\u00a0<\/span> (NBCUniversal)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Carvey pointed out that he and Spade<\/a> knew many people who follow religions other than Christianity and added, “I’ve never met someone from another religious faith that was upset about a Christmas tree.”\u00a0<\/p>\n “I’d say stop that bulls—,” Spade said.\u00a0<\/p>\n “Yeah, ’cause everyone loves Santa and the tree and all the trappings,” Carvey said.<\/p>\n TRUMP\u2019S WARNING TO NIGERIA OFFERS HOPE TO NATION’S PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS\u00a0<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n “They like all things about it,” Spade said. “Don’t say that word.”<\/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 “If you’re of faith, it’s about Christianity,” Carvey said. “But I think at this point in America, it’s just Christmas. It’s a fun holiday.”<\/p>\n However, Carvey noted that he was opposed to the restriction of speech.\u00a0<\/p>\n “I don’t like the thought police,” “The Dana Carvey Show” alum<\/a> said. “I don’t like to have words I can’t use.”<\/p>\n The comedian said he “didn’t like the anti-Christian feel” around Christmas.\u00a0<\/span> (David Spade Instagram\u00a0)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n NICKI MINAJ PRAISED FOR SPOTLIGHTING CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION IN NIGERIA: ‘BODY COUNT IS JUST TOO HIGH TO IGNORE’<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n “I don’t like the anti-Christian feel because Christmas to me wasn’t really about that because I am Christian<\/a>,” Spade said.\u00a0<\/p>\n While Carvey described Spade as a “secular” and “lapsed” Christian, the “Joe Dirt” star said he was “just more spiritual.”<\/p>\n Spade expressed his opinion that the Christian faith is treated differently than other religions.\u00a0<\/p>\n “Like is this where we get the hammer? You can’t say that about anyone else,” he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n “We’re taking a beating down in Africa<\/a>,” he continued. “It’s like this is not the year to be Christian. I will tell you that.”<\/p>\n Spade shared his view that Christianity is treated differently than other religions.\u00a0<\/span> (David Spade Facebook\u00a0)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n US AMBASSADOR MICHAEL WALTZ DECLARES ATROCITIES AGAINST CHRISTIANS IN NIGERIA ‘GENOCIDE’<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n “That’s for sure,” Carvey said. “There’s a lot of that going on.”<\/p>\n \u00a0“A lot of that, it’s tough,” Spade agreed.<\/p>\n Humanitarian groups have increasingly raised concerns about the persecution of Christians in parts of Africa.\u00a0<\/p>\n A June 2025 report by International Christian Concern (ICC) documented a “disturbing rise” 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 “country of particular concern,” citing the widespread killings of Christians in the West African nation. Pope Leo XIV, the U.S. State Department and celebrities including Nicki Minaj<\/a> have also condemned recent massacres in Nigeria.<\/p>\n Spade said “this is not the year to be Christian.”<\/span> (Randy Holmes via Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n After highlighting Christian persecution in Africa, Spade redirected the conversation back to the Christmas snub at the recent tree lighting.\u00a0<\/p>\n “We can call it a Christmas tree,” Spade said. “I’m still going to go to these malls. I still don’t want to offend people by saying it. But there’s so many things with different religions. You’re not allowed to slam someone else’s religion.”<\/p>\n Spade’s remarks come after the city of Portland came under fire<\/a> for again hosting its annual tree-lighting ceremony and nixing any use of the word “Christmas.”<\/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 Instead, organizers advertised the festive occasion as “Portland’s 41st Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony,” according to social media accounts for Pioneer Courthouse Square, where the tree is displayed.\u00a0<\/p>\n “Portland\u2019s Tree is lit!” one caption on an Instagram video shared by the Portland, Oregon, Instagram account stated.<\/p>\n “Portland\u2019s 41st Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony presented by SmartPark is tonight!” another message shared on social media by both the Portland, Oregon, government and Pioneer Courthouse Square stated.\u00a0<\/p>\n Portland, Oregon, recently came under fire for not mentioning Christmas while promoting its annual Christmas tree lighting in a local square.<\/span> (Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n “Celebrate the highlight of the Downtown Holiday Season as Santa Claus flips the switch, illuminating more than 9,500 colorful LED lights to shine bright on our City\u2019s 75\u2019 Douglas-fir, generously donated by Stimson Lumber for all to enjoy. SEE YOU TONIGHT, PORTLAND!” it added.<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER<\/u>\u00a0<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Social media commenters sounded off online that the city refused to mention the word “Christmas.”\u00a0<\/p>\n “The City of Portland and local media outlets are calling this \u2018The Tree\u2019 because they despise Christians like me and many of you so much they can\u2019t bring themselves to say the word \u2018Christmas,\u2019” independent journalist David Medina posted to X.<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n LIKE WHAT YOU\u2019RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS<\/u>\u00a0<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n “They can\u2019t even say Christmas tree in Portland. They call it ‘the tree,'” another conservative account<\/u><\/a> posted to X in response to a video Medina posted.\u00a0<\/p>\n “In Portland they\u2019re trying to take the Christmas out of Christmas tree. It\u2019s a Christmas tree, it\u2019s always been a Christmas tree, and it will always be a Christmas tree. These people will slowly take everything until there\u2019s nothing left if given the opportunity,” one social media account posted<\/u><\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"David](\"https:\/\/www.jubi24.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/david-spade-dana-garvey-final.jpg\")
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