Comedian and television producer Larry David has publicly commented on the deterioration of his long-standing friendship with legal scholar Alan Dershowitz, citing Dershowitz’s involvement in high-profile legal defenses as the source of tension.
Dershowitz, a former Harvard University law professor, has represented clients including Donald Trump, Jeffrey Epstein, O.J. Simpson, and Harvey Weinstein throughout his legal career. He was part of Trump’s defense team during the president’s first impeachment trial in 2020. The two men were neighbors and friends on Martha’s Vineyard for an extended period before their relationship soured.
A public confrontation between the pair surfaced in 2021, during which David reportedly called Dershowitz “disgusting” at a grocery store. Dershowitz later confirmed the encounter to a publication in 2022, describing how David had rebuffed his attempts at conversation. The incident occurred despite their previous social closeness, with Dershowitz noting David had regularly visited their home for workouts and dinners.
When featured in an Atlantic profile this week, David reflected on the conflict, acknowledging it represented one of the rare confrontational moments in his personal life. He also expressed regret about not reaching out to Dershowitz following the death of Dershowitz’s son Elon, who died from a stroke at age 64. However, in a subsequent communication to the Atlantic, David reiterated his position that Dershowitz bore responsibility for the friendship’s collapse, stating that Dershowitz had compromised his principles through his legal work.
Dershowitz switched his party affiliation to the Republican party in April, after decades as a Democratic supporter. Additionally, the U.S. Supreme Court declined in June to revive a $300 million defamation lawsuit Dershowitz had filed against CNN regarding coverage of his statements made while representing Trump.
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