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Bill Maher Under Fire Over Racial Epithet

Jun 5, 2017  •  Post A Comment

Bill Maher, host of HBO’s “Real Time,” got in hot water on Friday’s show when he unleashed a racial epithet. He has since apologized for the incident, but continues to face backlash.

Maher issued a statement Saturday in which he said: “Friday nights are always my worst night of sleep because I’m up reflecting on the things I should or shouldn’t have said on my live show. … Last night was a particularly long night as I regret the word I used in the banter of a live moment. The word was offensive and I regret saying it and am very sorry.”

Maher was chatting on the show with Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska when the lawmaker invited Maher to come to the state, saying, “We’d love to have you work in the fields with us.” Maher replied: “Work in the fields? Senator, I’m a house n—–.”

Maher immediately tried to reassure his audience that it was a joke, but social media quickly blew up with criticism of Maher.

HBO issued a statement Saturday saying: “Bill Maher’s comment last night was completely inexcusable and tasteless. We are removing his deeply offensive comment from any subsequent airings of the show.”

The incident has resulted in at least one cancellation of a guest appearance, with TMZ.com reporting that Sen. Al Franken pulled out of an appearance that had been scheduled for this Friday.

TMZ quotes a spokesperson for Franken saying: “Senator Franken believes that what Bill Maher said was inappropriate and offensive. … He was glad to see Bill, who the Senator considers to be a good friend, apologize and express sincere regret for his comment.”

6 Comments

  1. Let’s start a petition to support Bill Maher. If anyone can say they have fought for equal rights for others, he surely can. We all make mistakes and he was pointing out what he was being asked to do to go to Nebraska…work in the fields. We have to admit that we use this jargon not as offensive to African Americans but as slang with our friends as it represents something else. it doesn’t make it right but it makes us human.

  2. He should be out just like before
    but the network will keep him on because he is so anti trump

  3. He made a mistake during a live interview. It was a big mistake. I don’t support censoring him by taking him off the air just like I don’t support censoring people who speak at college campuses. Freedom of thought is paramount and you can’t subjectively filter what people are allowed to hear because you are worried it would gain a foothold. If it merits respect, it will be respected. If it is vile and hateful, people get to see that too. Don’t tell me what is safe for my consumption.

  4. Whats more outrageous ( and ignored by all main stream media) is the reaction of Maher’s audience.
    Loud laughter and applause!!!! If that happened on FOX the NY Times would be writing op eds in blood!!!!!

  5. He had a ‘Mel Gibson moment’ that allowed everyone to see who he really is. That he had the comment at the ready – when it should be the furthest thing from his mind is quite telling. We could just excuse the comment as “locker room” talk but I seem to remember Bill calling that excuse BS!

  6. Go to your “safe space.”

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