Schitt’s Creek: David’s sassiest moments that shut down everyone, effortlessly

Schitt’s Creek (Image Source: Prime Video)
Schitt’s Creek (Image Source: Prime Video)

There’s no doubt that Dan Levy as David Rose is the king of sass on Schitt’s Creek. Whether he’s giving clever insults, rolling his eyes, or saying something funny in a very serious voice, David always knows how to shut people down with short words. David’s fashion sense might be bold and different, but he always knows what to say to end awkward moments or silly conversations. Let’s look at some of David’s best and sassiest moments in Schitt's Creek that showed everyone not to mess with him.


Schitt’s Creek: David’s sassiest moments

“I do drink red wine. But I also drink white wine. And I’ve been known to sample the occasional rosé.”

This wasn’t just a sassy moment in Schitt’s Creek; it was peak David Rose vulnerability wrapped in wit. In season 1, when Stevie questions David about his sexuality in a clumsy attempt to understand where they stand, David crafts a metaphor so smooth it belongs on a t-shirt. Instead of making it awkward, he shuts down the labels entirely and casually delivers this now-iconic wine analogy.

The moment is equally subtle but powerful. It’s sass used as a tool for clarity, and also as a polite “don’t make it weird” statement. David takes control of the narrative, all while staying true to his dry, glamorous vibe. He essentially told Stevie and the audience that you don’t need to explain yourself when you know exactly who you are.

Schitt’s Creek (Image Source: Prime Video)
Schitt’s Creek (Image Source: Prime Video)

“I like the wine and not the label.”

A follow-up from the wine metaphor, but this time it lands with even more emotional impact. When Stevie brings up the earlier conversation, trying to get more answers, David’s response is once again measured, confident, and characteristically fabulous.

By declaring his interest in people rather than gender, David not only addresses the question with poise but also pushes back on society’s need for categorization. It’s a masterclass in how to set boundaries without being confrontational. Plus, it’s said with that unmistakable David-style nonchalance that turns sass into philosophy in Schitt's Creek.


“I will not feel shame about the mall pretzels.”

Food shame? Not on David’s watch. When someone tries to make him feel guilty for indulging in a mall pretzel (as if that’s even possible), David’s defense is fast, fierce, and fabulous. The line is funny on the surface, but it’s also deeply David. In Schitt’s Creek, he owns his choices, even the salty, carb-heavy ones.

This is the kind of sass that inspires confidence. He’s saying, “Yes, I did that, and no, you will not make me feel bad for it.” The subtext? If loving yourself includes loving snack food, David Rose is already five steps ahead of you.


“I’m trying very hard not to connect with people right now.”

Most of us fake polite small talk. David? He says what everyone’s thinking but doesn’t dare admit. When he’s approached in a moment of quiet, instead of pretending to be socially available, he just lays it out like it is, and it hits hilariously hard.

The magic here is that David isn’t being cruel, just unapologetically honest. It’s a funny way of saying, “Not now,” and it’s this kind of emotional frankness, dressed in sarcasm, that makes his sass feel so organic and earned in Schitt’s Creek.

Schitt’s Creek (Image Source: Prime Video)
Schitt’s Creek (Image Source: Prime Video)

“You do realize that spending money you don’t have is a very stupid thing to do, right?”

Classic David. He’s not above saying what needs to be said, especially when someone is being outrageously irresponsible. When Alexis goes a little wild with her spending habits, David doesn’t sugarcoat it. He drops this line with the perfect mix of deadpan and disbelief.

It’s the sass equivalent of a slap on the wrist, blunt, sarcastic, and wrapped in real concern. It’s also deeply ironic, considering his own past of lavish spending, which makes it that much funnier. Sass with a pinch of hypocrisy? Even better.

“I don’t skate through life, Alexis. I walk through life in really nice shoes.”

When Alexis implies that David doesn’t take life seriously or lacks ambition, he delivers this savage clapback. It’s funny, yes, but also insightful. David knows who he is, and he owns it, flaws and all. He may not have a traditional path, but he’s doing it in style.

The line is a flex, a fashionable, fabulous reminder that success looks different on everyone. And if anyone tries to undermine David’s path, they’ll be met with this kind of sass that leaves no room for doubt.

Schitt’s Creek (Image Source: Prime Video)
Schitt’s Creek (Image Source: Prime Video)

“I could not be more at one with nature. I do Coachella every year.”

When the Roses are forced to rough it a bit and someone suggests David isn’t very “outdoorsy,” he whips out this gem. It’s pure David, dramatic, self-important, and hysterically out of touch with the actual meaning of being one with nature. The best part is how sincere he seems in the moment.

Coachella, to David, is nature in Schitt’s Creek. That’s the beauty of his sass; it’s not just about being mean or clever; it’s about revealing how deeply he lives in his own curated reality. And honestly? We wouldn’t want it any other way.


“Love that journey for me.”

A catchphrase that turned into a cultural phenomenon in Schitt’s Creek. While Alexis originally said it, David delivers his own version that oozes sarcasm, especially when someone tries to convince him that a horrible experience is somehow character-building. What makes this so perfect is how David uses the phrase to reject toxic positivity.

Instead of pretending to be grateful for a bad time, he leans into the irony. The sass is in the refusal to accept fake optimism. David doesn’t play that game.

Schitt’s Creek (Image Source: Prime Video)
Schitt’s Creek (Image Source: Prime Video)

“I am very uninterested in that opinion.”

This one’s straight-up line, and that’s why it’s so satisfying. When faced with someone giving unsolicited advice or a poorly timed opinion, David cuts it down with this simple, scorched-earth line. It’s so effective because it stops the conversation dead in its tracks.

No room for debate, no need for further clarification. The sass is final. It's like a velvet rope dropped between David and nonsense, and he’s not lifting it.

“You’re going to have to stop calling it that.”

This is a favorite for anyone who’s ever cringed when someone uses the wrong term, for fashion, art, or anything David takes seriously. Whether someone’s describing his knits as “sweaters” or calling his curated collection “junk,” David isn’t having it. His sass isn’t just corrective, it’s aesthetic justice.

He’s not just correcting language, he’s correcting worldview. And when David Rose tells you to stop calling it that, you better believe he means it.


David Rose in Schitt’s Creek didn’t just shut people down; he elevated the art of the shutdown. His sass wasn’t mean-spirited or cruel; it was clever, intentional, and often layered with a deeper emotional truth. Whether defending his fashion, his sexuality, or his right to sulk in peace, David’s one-liners were like armor, and we loved every sparkling, sarcastic second of it. In a world where silence is often awkward and politeness masks honesty, David Rose’s sass was a breath of fresh and fabulous air.

Edited by Nimisha