Maher’s comment during his discussion with Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Nebraska, was quickly and broadly criticized.
LOS ANGELES — Bill Maher apologized Saturday for using a racial slur to describe himself as a house slave during a live segment for his HBO talk show.
Maher’s comment during his discussion with Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Nebraska, was quickly and broadly criticized after it aired on the comedian’s « Real Time with Bill Maher » show Friday night.
HBO said the remark was « completely inexcusable and tasteless » and the segment would not be re-aired.
« 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, » Maher said in a statement Saturday. « 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. »
During Maher’s discussion with Sasse, the senator joked that he would like to have Maher visit Nebraska and work in the fields. The comedian responded by using a slur in a joke that he was a house slave.
The comedian immediately waved off audience groans. « It’s a joke, » he said on the show.
Activists including the Rev. Al Sharpton quickly criticized Maher, and it remained a top-ranked topic on Twitter on Saturday.
« Just because Bill Maher is a liberal and our friend, you don’t give him a pass, » Sharpton said on his radio show Saturday. « It’s wrong and we’re calling him out on it. You cannot allow folk to act like there’s anything funny in that context about using that word. »
Sasse wrote on Twitter on Saturday morning that he wished he’d challenged Maher for his use of the slur immediately.
« I’m a 1st Amendment absolutist. Comedians get latitude to cross hard lines, » Sasse wrote in a series of posts. « But free speech comes with a responsibility to speak up when folks use that word. Me just cringing last night wasn’t good enough. Here’s what I wish I’d been quick enough to say in the moment: ‘Hold up, why would you think it’s OK to use that word?' »
