Bill Maher just messed up.
On his HBO program Real Time Friday night, which tapes live, the comedian dropped the N-word during a sit-down interview with Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Nebraska), who has received praise for his #NeverTrump stance.
After some polite back and forth between Maher and the Republican senator, who both seemed to agree on the subject of the latter’s recent book—about how “spoiled and entitled” millennial kids are, obviously—the following exchange happened.
“Halloween used to be a kid thing,” Maher remarked.
“It’s not anymore?” said Sen. Sasse.
But really, @BillMaher has got to go. There are no explanations that make this acceptable. pic.twitter.com/K5XlEjekQ9
— deray mckesson (@deray) June 3, 2017
“Not out here,” explained Maher. “No, adults dress up for Halloween. They don’t do that in Nebraska?”
“It’s frowned upon. Yeah, we don’t do that quite as much,” he replied.
“I’ve gotta get to Nebraska more,” offered Maher.
“You’re welcome. We’d love to have you work in the fields with us,” joked Sen. Sasse.
Then it happened: “Work in the fields? Senator, I’m a house nigga.”
Maher’s terrible, off-color—and frankly, more than a little racist—joke received a mixture of groans and laughter from the audience. Sen. Sasse was pretty firmly in the laugh camp, red-faced and grinning (albeit nervously) from ear-to-ear. Why the senator chose to play along instead of correcting Maher or saying anything is anyone’s guess.
To the groaners in the crowd, Maher asserted, “It’s a joke.”
But that excuse isn’t nearly good enough. Twitter, understandably, came after the comedian for using the N-word—a term of racial subjugation and oppression that is never OK for white people to use, in any context.
WE GOT YOUR HOUSE, NIGGA, BILL MAHER!
With regard to the 1963 March on Washington, I remember how John Lewis was not permitted to deliver his original speech.
http://billmoyers.com/content/two-versions-of-john-lewis-speech/
https://twitter.com/MillarMatthews/status/871095336369930240
MOFO regrets saying using the N-word
REALITY:
He’ll continue to think & believe it, THOUGH,
BYE BOY
https://twitter.com/deray/status/871055556391424001
https://twitter.com/MichaelSkolnik/status/871006103257182211
https://twitter.com/MatthewACherry/status/871034115528695809
https://twitter.com/absurdistwords/status/871001131727585280
https://twitter.com/thehill/status/871085333273866240
I’m not surprised that Maher used the word n!99er on national TV. In my more than 60 years living in the south, I’ve pretty much seen and heard it all when it comes to white people saying ugly, derogatory sh*t about Black Americans. The reason he felt so comfortable using the word is because, although he’ll never admit it, it’s what he thinks when he sees one of us. He can keep his excuse as far as I’m concerned because I know that when the rubber meets the road, a majority of Americans will most likely side with him against us because they see nothing wrong with calling us, or thinking of us, as n!99ers.
Tell the truth
ON POINT, majiir.
FUCK YOU, MAHER
https://twitter.com/AlBoeNEWS/status/871081300228059136
CENTURIES of SLAVERY, RACISM, BIGOTRY, COP KILLING, JIM CROW, LYNCHINGS, AND WHITE SUPREMACY IS TIRING BILL MAHER
SLEEP ON THAT, MOFO
Please Tweet, SG2
TOO LATE‼️
https://twitter.com/BenSasse/status/870949246094258177
FUCK YOU, AE, ALSO TOO,
Same coward in the me camp, hiding behind that white skin. And he’ Jewish too.
NO PASS, MOFO
https://twitter.com/3ChicsPolitico/status/871073291619901440
https://twitter.com/TPM/status/871070854817382400
He can keep his excuse, too. The time to condemn a racist comment is when it happens in your presence, NOT after one has allegedly “reflected” on one’s cowardice.
NOT ENOUGH, HBO!
https://twitter.com/juliareinstein/status/871033580092354561
https://twitter.com/MSNBC/status/871033778948493312
https://twitter.com/HITrumpetGuy/status/870985675121844225
Thanks for posting this, SG2.
BOOM
He has always been about profit for him – thinks he’s cool for disrespecting everyone as a joke… gives all racists room for slack – just joking – like Hitler, Stalin killing millions and then laughing!
True! That’s some sick ISH.
Horrible and upsetting!
So his excuse is that it was a “joke?” In my mind, he dug himself in deeper with that one because I take that as his saying that he has the privilege of playing lightly with the suffering of others and somehow feels “entitled” to use the degrading “n word” as easily as the slave-holding plantation owners did. If this attitude accompanies him as he learns about Black history, then, I think, the lessons of the history have not moved his heart to push for societal changes and feel the requirement to repair the damage of the horrors of slavery and Jim Crow.
For him to say what he did at a time when so many people are trying to turn the clock back on the Black community is horribly inexcusable. I ache as I hear and watch all that is happening today. Black lives need to start mattering today as much as our society values/has historically valued White lives.
Black people should get this upset about things such as the torture and murder of a completely naked Natasha McKenna in a Fairfax County jail.
Good morning Sittingducks,
Actually, there was a huge response and protest against the killing of Natasha Mckenna.
Take a look at the 3ChicPolitical page at this link:
https://3chicspolitico.com/2015/09/11/the-brutal-treatment-and-heartless-murder-of-natashamckenna/#comments
On that page you will be able to take a look at the video of the Fairfax County Ad Hoc Commission public comment session on September 14, 2015. where many people attending spoke out against the horrible in-custody death of Natasha McKenna.
Here is my transcript of Erica Totten’s speech (Timestamp 55:48 to 1:00:50).
-Erica Totten’s speech at the September 14, 2015 public meeting of the Fairfax County Ad Hoc Commission to Review Police Practices:
Besides people attending that public meeting, there were activists in the streets:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/COiyucYUAAUELmU.jpg
Thank you, Yahtc
RECEIPTS! Thank YOU!
The so called N-word should never be used by anyone, in any of it’s derivatives. It came out of the rotten spirit of White Supremacy. Why Blacks choose to use a term created by White Supremacy to degrade them is puzzling. It is not a term of endearment, no matter who uses it. It’s a devilish word kept alive in part by Blacks. I will never legitimize the word.
https://youtu.be/2MnmmDiQSdA&rel=0
https://twitter.com/JamilSmith/status/870875695362080768
https://twitter.com/UsmanAnwar78/status/870921040888815616
https://twitter.com/blurbette/status/870825506974965761
https://twitter.com/TheRoot/status/870836540800368640
https://twitter.com/yashar/status/870862067569377282
https://twitter.com/USATODAY/status/870912977666494464
Bill Maher comfortably used the words “house nigger” and the audience clapped and laughed it up. This sob. How dare him! Just because may he crawl his ugly ass on black women doesn’t give him a right to utter a racial slur. I’m damn tired of mofos slurring black people and then saying it was a joke. Fuck Bill Maher with a rusty pitchfork. Black people or anyone else excusing this behavior make others feel it’s ok. Just stop that damn ISH.