David Spade slams mall for omitting ‘Christmas’ from tree-lighting ceremony

December 15, 2025

Actor and comedian David Spade has called out a local mall for “consciously” omitting any mention of Christianity during a recent tree-lighting celebration.

The Christian Post reports that the 62-year-old Saturday Night Live alum, told former SNL castmate Dana Carvey that he’s growing tired of what he calls a rising “anti–Christian feel” regarding Christmas.

Spade joined Carvey on the “Fly on the Wall” podcast last week and described how the word “Christmas” was deliberately omitted from the tree-lighting ceremony.

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 explained.

Both Spade and Carvey recognized that even non-Christians have traditionally enjoyed Christmas tree-lighting celebrations, with Carvey noting, “I’ve never met someone from another religious faith that was upset about a Christmas tree.”

According to the Christian Post, Spade, who identifies as a Christian, said the omission was evidence of “anti-Christian” sentiment around the holidays.

 “I don’t like the anti-Christian feel, ‘cause Christmas to me wasn’t really about that. Because I am Christian, but more spiritual,” Spade told Carvey.

The comedian also referenced the ongoing Christian persecution in Nigeria, where last month, armed militants kidnapped more than 300 students from St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary School.

Spade said, “We’re taking a beating down in Africa. It’s like, this is not the year to be Christian. I will tell you that.”

Photo: top, Credit: Screengrab/YouTube/Fly on the Wall