David Spade slams mall tree-lighting ceremony for avoiding word Christmas

David Spade slammed a mall's tree-lighting ceremony for omitting the word Christmas In the Sunday episode of Spade and Dana Carvey's Fly on the Wall podcast the -year-old Grown Ups actor called out the organizers of a Christmas tree-lighting ceremony for consciously avoiding any mention of the Christian holiday during the event 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 selected dopey mall but it commented tree-lighting ceremony and they were careful not to say the word Christmas during the whole ceremony Spade disclosed without naming the mall No Carvey disclosed DAVID SPADE TALKS ABOUT THE DANGERS OF CANCEL PRACTICES FOR COMEDIANS 'I HOPE COMICS ARE ALLOWED TO BE COMICS' Why Spade requested So it's just a tree And you go I would understand if you explained 'They're doing the tree lighting at a certain mall or whatever You go OK 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 for the whole month Isn't it for Christmas Carvey pointed out that he and Spade knew plenty of 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 I'd say stop that bulls--- Spade announced Yeah 'cause everyone loves Santa and the tree and all the trappings Carvey stated TRUMP S WARNING TO NIGERIA OFFERS HOPE TO NATION'S PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS They like all things about it Spade announced Don't say that word 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 If you're of faith it's about Christianity Carvey mentioned But I think at this point in America it's just Christmas It's a fun holiday However Carvey noted that he was opposed to the restriction of speech I don't like the thought police The Dana Carvey Show alum stated I don't like to have words I can't use NICKI MINAJ PRAISED FOR SPOTLIGHTING CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION IN NIGERIA 'BODY COUNT IS JUST TOO HIGH TO IGNORE' I don't like the anti-Christian feel because Christmas to me wasn't really about that because I am Christian Spade noted While Carvey described Spade as a secular and lapsed Christian the Joe Dirt star declared he was just more spiritual Spade expressed his opinion that the Christian faith is treated differently than other religions Like is this where we get the hammer You can't say that about anyone else he stated We're taking a beating down in Africa he continued It's like this is not the year to be Christian I will tell you that US AMBASSADOR MICHAEL WALTZ DECLARES ATROCITIES AGAINST CHRISTIANS IN NIGERIA 'GENOCIDE' That's for sure Carvey mentioned There's a lot of that going on A lot of that it's tough Spade agreed Humanitarian groups have increasingly raised concerns about the persecution of Christians in parts of Africa A June overview 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 President Donald Trump stated 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 have also condemned modern massacres in Nigeria After highlighting Christian persecution in Africa Spade redirected the conversation back to the Christmas snub at the latest tree lighting We can call it a Christmas tree Spade explained I'm still going to go to these malls I still don't want to offend people by saying it But there's so numerous things with different religions You're not allowed to slam someone else's religion Spade's remarks come after the city of Portland came under fire for again hosting its annual tree-lighting ceremony and nixing any use of the word Christmas The event held on Nov was decked out in Christmas lights a traditionally decorated tree and a visit from Santa Claus but did not promote any mention of Christmas Instead organizers advertised the festive occasion as Portland's st Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony according to social media accounts for Pioneer Courthouse Square where the tree is displayed Portland s Tree is lit one caption on an Instagram video shared by the Portland Oregon Instagram account stated Portland s st Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony presented by SmartPark is tonight another message shared on social media by both the Portland Oregon administration and Pioneer Courthouse Square stated Celebrate the highlight of the Downtown Holiday Season as Santa Claus flips the switch illuminating more than colorful LED lights to shine bright on our City s Douglas-fir generously donated by Stimson Lumber for all to enjoy SEE YOU TONIGHT PORTLAND it added CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER Social media commenters sounded off online that the city refused to mention the word Christmas The City of Portland and local media outlets are calling this The Tree because they despise Christians like me and a great number of of you so much they can t bring themselves to say the word Christmas independent journalist David Medina posted to X LIKE WHAT YOU RE READING CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS They can t even say Christmas tree in Portland They call it 'the tree ' another conservative account posted to X in response to a video Medina posted In Portland they re trying to take the Christmas out of Christmas tree It s a Christmas tree it s reliably been a Christmas tree and it will invariably be a Christmas tree These people will slowly take everything until there s nothing left if given the opportunity one social media account posted Democratic Portland Mayor Keith Wilson's office also explicitly called the event a Christmas Tree Lighting in response to Fox News Digital while brushing off the criticisms of the event Mayor Wilson was delighted to join Portland s annual Christmas Tree Lighting alongside Christmas carolers and holiday festivities Wilson's office announced when demanded about the criticisms That stated framing it otherwise feels like quite the reach Fox News Digital's Emma Colton contributed to this summary