Bill Maher Apologizes For Using Racial Slur On 'Real Time' Talk Show
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com/AP) — Bill Maher has apologized for using a racial slur on his HBO show.
Maher wrote in a statement Saturday that he regrets using the slur to refer to himself as a house slave during a segment on his "Real Time with Bill Maher" show Friday night. He wrote that he slept poorly Friday night after realizing he shouldn't have made the remark.
The comedian was roundly criticized after the show aired. HBO said Saturday it would not re-air the segment.
Maher was speaking with Republican Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska when he used the slur.
The comedian immediately waved off audience groans.
Activists including the Rev. Al Sharpton quickly criticized Maher, and it remained a top-ranked topic on Twitter on Saturday morning.
NAN wants to meet w/ HBO asap about the normalizing of the use of the N word. I know and love Bill Maher but this is unacceptable. I will
— Reverend Al Sharpton (@TheRevAl) June 3, 2017
address this Bill Maher issue and our move on HBO at this morning's NAN Saturday Action Rally. My address is live at 10 am/et on Impact TV.
— Reverend Al Sharpton (@TheRevAl) June 3, 2017
As of Saturday, many have taken to social media:
Disagree with his politics, but Bill Maher has defended the right on free speech issues, we should defend him.
— Paul Joseph Watson (@PrisonPlanet) June 3, 2017
Note: Bill Maher is not of the left.
— Joshua Holland (@JoshuaHol) June 3, 2017
He's a pot-smoking, right-libertarian who backs Dems bc he hates social cons.
Don't take my word... pic.twitter.com/SOfyB4eDgM
Bill Maher was way worse than Kathy Griffin.
— Rachel Sklar (@rachelsklar) June 3, 2017
Sasse wrote on Twitter that he wished he had immediately criticized Maher for using the term.
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