Bill Maher is no stranger to controversy. The “insufferably smug” Real Time host has joked that there should be a “mass shooting” at the Country Music Awards, called the Quran a “hate-filled holy book,” booked white supremacist Milo Yiannopoulos, and compared One Direction’s Zayn Malik to terrorist Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, even going so far as to ask him, “Where were you during the Boston marathon?” Maher takes pride in crossing the proverbial line, but on Friday’s episode of Real Time, he crossed the line, then set it on fire.
During a conversation about adolescence and maturity, Maher told his guest, Republican Senator Ben Sasse of Nebraska, that adults still dress up for Halloween in California, and whether the same thing happens in the Cornhusker State.
SASSE: “It’s frowned upon. We don’t do that quite as much.”
MAHER: “I’ve got to get to Nebraska more.”
SASSE: “You’re welcome. We’d love to have you work in the fields with us.”
MAHER: “Work in the fields? Senator, I’m a house n*gga.”
The line drew some laughs from the in-studio audience, but mostly groans. Sasse didn’t directly address Maher using the derogatory term for a black slave who worked in the master’s house instead of in the field, although the Senator awkwardly fumbled, “No, it’s not a joke.” (He also responded to a tweet about the interview, but made no mention of the brewing controversy.)
UPDATE: Sasse responded to the controversy with a mini-tweet storm on Saturday morning.
Am walking off a redeye from LAX.
3 reflections on @billmaher
1. I’m a 1st Amendment absolutist. Comedians get latitude to cross hard lines.— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) June 3, 2017
2. But free speech comes with a responsibility to speak up when folks use that word. Me just cringing last night wasn’t good enough.
(2of4?) https://t.co/e4Bw8s8tV2— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) June 3, 2017
3. 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?…
(3of4?) https://t.co/mQL6wMEd7W— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) June 3, 2017
(4of4)
"…The history of the n-word is an attack on universal human dignity. It’s therefore an attack on the American Creed. Don't use it.” https://t.co/kEZm5vPFHK— Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) June 3, 2017
Needless to say, people are not very happy about Maher… again.
Bill Maher is that white dude in high school that thinks he got his honorary black card because he fist bumps black ppl all the time.
— . (@disco_socialist) June 3, 2017
https://twitter.com/pixelatedboat/status/870880256273424384
the only shocking thing about Bill Maher saying the n word on air is that he hasn't done it before now
— Sarah Jones (@onesarahjones) June 3, 2017
https://twitter.com/solomongeorgio/status/870858476401983488
Me after watching that clip of Bill Maher pic.twitter.com/y099nvBsp0
— b-boy bouiebaisse (@jbouie) June 3, 2017
Oh? Some of you are just now discovering Bill Maher is a heap of flaming hot trash, huh? pic.twitter.com/ZfTO7IFgLJ
— Copy McPasty, Writer (@KashannKilson) June 3, 2017
The only thing Bill Maher could say that'd shock me would be a good joke.
— mike ginn (@shutupmikeginn) June 3, 2017
https://twitter.com/ira/status/870885265589493760
https://twitter.com/IjeomaOluo/status/870887486104387585
speaking from personal experience, bill maher is hilarious if you’re 14, don’t know anyone without a garage, and think doing drugs is comedy
— Jon Bois (@jon_bois) June 3, 2017
*opens twitter*
"bill maher just called himself a house nig-"
*shuts off phone*
*lays burdens down by riverside*
*walks into water*— shalewa sharpe (@silkyjumbo) June 3, 2017
