Key facts
- Larry David stated that Alan Dershowitz "made a deal with the devil" by becoming Donald Trump's lawyer.
- David and Dershowitz, formerly friends and neighbors, had a public argument where David called Dershowitz "disgusting".
- Dershowitz confirmed the confrontation and David's statement that he could "never talk to me again".
- David expressed regret for not contacting Dershowitz after his son's death but maintained Dershowitz was to blame for his ostracization.
- Dershowitz, a former Harvard law professor, has represented Trump, Jeffrey Epstein, O.J. Simpson, and Harvey Weinstein.
Comedian Larry David has spoken out about the estrangement from his former friend, lawyer Alan Dershowitz, stating that Dershowitz "made a deal with the devil" by joining Donald Trump's legal team. The two, who were once friends and neighbors on Martha's Vineyard, reportedly had a public argument in 2021, during which David was heard calling Dershowitz "disgusting."
Dershowitz confirmed the incident to The New Yorker in 2022, recounting how David turned away from him in a grocery store and refused to speak, calling him "disgusting." Dershowitz noted that David used to frequent his home for workouts and dinners.
In a recent profile in The Atlantic, David elaborated on the confrontation, admitting he rarely engages in such disputes in real life unless he feels he can win. He also expressed some regret for not reaching out to Dershowitz after the death of his son, Elon, last year. However, David later added that Dershowitz "only has himself to blame" for his current social isolation, reiterating the "deal with the devil" sentiment.
Dershowitz, who had been a lifelong Democrat, announced in April that he was switching to the Republican party, citing the Democratic party's stance on Israel. In June, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to revive a $300 million defamation lawsuit Dershowitz filed against CNN over coverage of his remarks while defending Trump.