HispanicBusiness

A new DirecTV commercial featuring funnyman David Spade and late comedian Chris Farley has kicked up a dust cloud of criticism, and forced Spade to go on the defensive.

The ad shows Spade sitting on a couch while an image of the Farley performing his trademark "Fat Guy in a Little Coat" routine, appears nearby. Spade complains that without DirecTV, "I'm stuck with either cable or that (pointing to Farley). It never gets old."

Farley, who died in 1997 of heart failure due to a drug overdose, is not identified in the commercial. Nor is the fact that the Farley scene depicted is from the movie "Tommy Boy," in shich Spade co-starred.

The ad has generated complaints from TV viewers and lots of missives from bloggers, who say Spade seems to be simultaneously dissing and cashing in on Farley, his onetime friend.

Spade has responded with a statement released by his publicist.

"When DIRECTV came to me and the Farley family with this idea about 'Tommy Boy,' we talked and thought it would be a cool way to remind people just how funny Chris was. It is a clever homage to my friend and a movie that we loved doing."

DirecTV has not commented on the backlash.