Bill Maher apologizes for N-word. HBO/Sasse also comment

besada said:
What amazes me is how many people, on every side of the issue, just assume the apology was forced and insincere. So even though the guy who said the thing, says it was wrong to say, and that he's sorry, we have jackasses in here saying it's fine to say, and he shouldn't have apologized, and then others who refuse to even consider that he made a stupid mistake that he genuinely feels bad about.

I don't like Bill Maher much. I haven't since the 90's, when he gave us exciting new talent like Ann Coulter, and made edgy gay jokes (one of the focuses on the last anti-PC push). I think he's a not particularly funny, abrasive, asshole that occasionally points his ire at the right targets, because while he's a jerk, he's not fully insane enough to get behind the modern Republican party or Trump. Beyond that, we share little in the way of political values and policy opinions. He is basically a left-libertarian and I am a democratic socialist.

All that said, he didn't have to apologize. He rarely has in the past. It's unlikely HBO was going to can him. They knew what they were buying when they bought his show. And he didn't hedge and dodge in his apology, but rather came out and acknowledged what he did was wrong and that he was sorry.

Now, maybe he's just an insincere asshole who's laughing his ass off at people accepting his apology, or maybe he's a timid coward who allowed himself into being forced to lie about being sorry. Or maybe, just maybe, he said something really stupid and inexcusable, as people talking live sometimes do, and feels bad about it. None of us can be sure.

All I really know is that when we completely ignore the response of someone who's done something bad, it reduces the value in anyone doing the right thing after they screw up. If standing up and apologizing only convinces people you're either a liar or a coward, why would anyone ever do it? If you never leave a space for people to back up, then the only way they have is forward, off the cliff.

I'm not suggesting anyone has to forgive or forget or whatever. Just suggesting that maybe people should consider that humans are fallible, and some people legitimately make mistakes and then feel bad about them.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mm1n5gJIFEg

I think there is enough context for people of color to doubt Maher's sincerity, and other as mentioned his apology doesn't focus on those that are harmed by the casual use of the word nigger.
 
besada said:
What amazes me is how many people, on every side of the issue, just assume the apology was forced and insincere. So even though the guy who said the thing, says it was wrong to say, and that he's sorry, we have jackasses in here saying it's fine to say, and he shouldn't have apologized, and then others who refuse to even consider that he made a stupid mistake that he genuinely feels bad about.

I don't like Bill Maher much. I haven't since the 90's, when he gave us exciting new talent like Ann Coulter, and made edgy gay jokes (one of the focuses on the last anti-PC push). I think he's a not particularly funny, abrasive, asshole that occasionally points his ire at the right targets, because while he's a jerk, he's not fully insane enough to get behind the modern Republican party or Trump. Beyond that, we share little in the way of political values and policy opinions. He is basically a left-libertarian and I am a democratic socialist.

All that said, he didn't have to apologize. He rarely has in the past. It's unlikely HBO was going to can him. They knew what they were buying when they bought his show. And he didn't hedge and dodge in his apology, but rather came out and acknowledged what he did was wrong and that he was sorry.

Now, maybe he's just an insincere asshole who's laughing his ass off at people accepting his apology, or maybe he's a timid coward who allowed himself into being forced to lie about being sorry. Or maybe, just maybe, he said something really stupid and inexcusable, as people talking live sometimes do, and feels bad about it. None of us can be sure.

All I really know is that when we completely ignore the response of someone who's done something bad, it reduces the value in anyone doing the right thing after they screw up. If standing up and apologizing only convinces people you're either a liar or a coward, why would anyone ever do it? If you never leave a space for people to back up, then the only way they have is forward, off the cliff.

I'm not suggesting anyone has to forgive or forget or whatever. Just suggesting that maybe people should consider that humans are fallible, and some people legitimately make mistakes and then feel bad about them.
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If he wanted to seem like he was sincere and not conflicted (which is what people are reading) then he should have said something along the lines of " And to the African Americans... I dun fucked up. Let me keep this shit 100, and just say that I didn't mean to offend YOU."
 
Apologies do something. Change does more.

Chance we get the second part? Slim to none. Maher gonna Maher. People going to continue to cape for him when his bigotry shows. Something something eat their own, something something this is why Trump won.

Rinse. Repeat.
 
L Thammy said:
People have been saying this because

1. he doesn't hesitate when he says it; he doesn't appear to be reaching for a word that's outside of his normal vocabulary

2. hearing the word "field" and then immediately jumping to slavery makes it seem like he's got slavery on the mind already​
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HAHAHAHAHA! What is wrong with you people? This has to be a joke post? Is he suppose to close is eyes and studder like fucking Hagrid not being able to say Voldemort?
 
Slayven said:
Nope, shit like that doesn't just slip out because an old movie or music. You say that shit because you want to. What situation could you be expericing that "Nigger" is your first reaction? Dropping a hammer on your toe? Papercut? Package is alte?
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i don't know, there's a million possible ways a bad word could slip out. you've never said a curse word or anything in a wrong context and regretted it? humans don't use language perfectly.. i've offended many people in my life by saying something i didn't really mean (thankfully no accidental racist shit lol i would fucking sink into the ground out of pure shame).

ok i'll give you a real life example. i was at a Wu concert a few years ago in Helsinki, and they were doing "Shame On A N****", and Method Man encouraged a 99% white as snow crowd yell out the n-word part of the lyrics in unison, was it unethical to participate? was it racist? Method Man himself was cracking up on stage, the rest of their crew as well.. so to me it didn't seem that wrong. (just very bizarre which is why i didn't join and just looked around confused heh).
 
besada said:

I'm not suggesting anyone has to forgive or forget or whatever. Just suggesting that maybe people should consider that humans are fallible, and some people legitimately make mistakes and then feel bad about them.
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Normally i would agree with you, but Mahr keeps fucking up like this

astroturfing said:
i don't know, there's a million possible ways a bad word could slip out. you've never said a curse word or anything in a wrong context and regretted it? humans don't use language perfectly.. i've offended many people in my life by saying something i didn't really mean (thankfully no accidental racist shit lol i would fucking sink into the ground out of pure shame).

ok i'll give you a real life example. i was at a Wu concert a few years ago in Helsinki, and they were doing "Shame On A N****", and Method Man encouraged a 99% white as snow crowd yell out the n-word part of the lyrics in unison, was it unethical to participate? was it racist? Method Man himself was cracking up on stage, the rest of their crew as well.. so to me it didn't seem that wrong. (just very bizarre which is why i didn't join and just looked around confused heh).
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No i never slipped up and used a racial epithet

And miss me with the rap lyric excuse
 
Aaron said:
I don't think it was racist. It was stupid, insensitive, and he should have never ever said it, but Maher's ego is so enormous that he thought he was cool enough with African Americans to be able to use that word. I know it's impossible for a white guy to ever be that cool, but I still think the mistake was more of being completely self-absorbed than actually being racist.

His apology is still shit, but again it's a product of his bloated ego. His actions should suffer actual consequences.
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I guess we have different ideas of what racism is. To me, if your brain jumps to 'black slavery' when you hear the term 'working the fields' that's harmful stereotyping. Haw haw them black slaves eh?

This is the first time I've called for him to be fired.

Like I've said already, I've already given him a few passes before reaching this point. The stuff he has said about Muslims are still ringing in my ears when I read this statement.
 
PerkeyMan said:
HAHAHAHAHA! What is wrong with you people? This has to be a joke post? Is he suppose to close is eyes and studder like fucking Hagrid not being able to say Voldemort?
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Most people saying things that make them uncomfortable don't usually say so without breaking their stride. I can...believe he regrets saying it, but he did say it with disturbing ease
 
Slayven said:
Comes across as apologizing to ease his mind. Is he regretting he said it because it was racist or because of the headache it is causing him professionally.?
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i dont care why he was apologizing, I dont really believe his apology myself. its jut that people aren't even reading the thing and saying he is blaming being tired for saying it. which he isn't.
 
Enzom21 said:
How does someone mistakenly make a nigger joke?
Where is the mistake? He made a choice not a mistake.
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yup.

you can see his brain hear "work in the field" and start thinking "ooh slavery joke", and instead of just moving on, he makes the n-word / slavery joke anyway.

not sure i can forgive him for this, it's pretty huge.
 
FUNKNOWN iXi said:
Samuel L. Jackson. And I'm curious what you are assuming my knowledge is limited in, but you don't have to respond.
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If you think any reference to the Field/House slave dynamic is a reference to Django, then I have to assume you were only first introduced to this by the movie and your knowledge of slavery is limited.

Bill Maher is 61 years old and pretty well versed in American History. I'd imagine the TV miniseries Roots in the late 70's had more of an impact as form of entertainment showcasing this than any recent Tarantino movie.

Either way, there's no direct reference to Django in his "joke" for anybody to assume it was reference, like at all.
 
Not funny any at all, and pretty stupid for saying it.

However, Bill Maher has probably been more outspoken for minorities than any other liberal TV personality. Again, of course it doesn't make it okay, but I think the lefts anger should be focused on Trump and gang.
 
besada said:
I'm not suggesting anyone has to forgive or forget or whatever. Just suggesting that maybe people should consider that humans are fallible, and some people legitimately make mistakes and then feel bad about them.
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He has so many other things to apologize for and it's such a specific phrase in such a weird context that it doesn't feel like an honest stupid mistake
 
knicks said:
Not funny any at all, and pretty stupid for saying it.

However, Bill Maher has probably been more outspoken for minorities than any other liberal TV personality. Again, of course it doesn't make it okay, but I think the lefts anger should be focused on Trump and gang.
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Why do people act as if liberals cant focus on multiple things at once?
 
NoblesseOblige said:
Jesus Christ. Sometimes people misread things. Maybe chill out.
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It's a clear as day statement, and people are coming in here condemning the man for nonsense. It's annoying and I expect better from people, especially here.

I will continue to call out ignorant drive-by bullshit.
 
knicks said:
Not funny any at all, and pretty stupid for saying it.

However, Bill Maher has probably been more outspoken for minorities than any other liberal TV personality. Again, of course it doesn't make it okay, but I think the lefts anger should be focused on Trump and gang.
Click to expand...

He's certainly outspoken on Muslims and trans folk.
 
knicks said:
Not funny any at all, and pretty stupid for saying it.

However, Bill Maher has probably been more outspoken for minorities than any other liberal TV personality. Again, of course it doesn't make it okay, but I think the lefts anger should be focused on Trump and gang.
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H..he has? If that's the case then minorities are having an even worse time than I thought.
 
knicks said:
Not funny any at all, and pretty stupid for saying it.

However, Bill Maher has probably been more outspoken for minorities than any other liberal TV personality. Again, of course it doesn't make it okay, but I think the lefts anger should be focused on Trump and gang.
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See this is the problem, people like Bill Maher does alot of harm because people seem to see him as a ally.

Sorry I don't care for people like this, he is not someone we need.
 
astroturfing said:
i don't know, there's a million possible ways a bad word could slip out. you've never said a curse word or anything in a wrong context and regretted it? humans don't use language perfectly.. i've offended many people in my life by saying something i didn't really mean (thankfully no accidental racist shit lol i would fucking sink into the ground out of pure shame).

ok i'll give you a real life example. i was at a Wu concert a few years ago in Helsinki, and they were doing "Shame On A N****", and Method Man encouraged a 99% white as snow crowd yell out the n-word part of the lyrics in unison, was it unethical to participate? was it racist? Method Man himself was cracking up on stage, the rest of their crew as well.. so to me it didn't seem that wrong. (just very bizarre which is why i didn't join and just looked around confused heh).
Click to expand...

Damn, Meth forced a whole shit load of white people to say nigger?
What magical negro powers he must have.
You didn't join in because you have some sense, the rest of those people... not so much.
 
Slayven said:
Cause no wants to take personal responsibility.

"Sorry, I fucked up"

Might as well be the weight of the world.
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Most people suck at apologizing from early on in life. You should see when my little kids are asked to apologize. They'll cross their arms and shake their head "no". I'm trying my damndest to change that. We can all do better. Maher could have done way better by giving an excuse free apology, but this is the one he gave.
 
Darryl M R said:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mm1n5gJIFEg

I think there is enough context for people of color to doubt Maher's sincerity, and other as mentioned his apology doesn't focus on those that are harmed by the casual use of the word nigger.
Click to expand...

so Wayne Brady complains about Maher suggesting he's "not really black" then goes on to say about the black women Maher dated "it's questionable they are women"

Like you can't make this shit up..
 
knicks said:
Not funny any at all, and pretty stupid for saying it.

However, Bill Maher has probably been more outspoken for minorities than any other liberal TV personality. Again, of course it doesn't make it okay, but I think the lefts anger should be focused on Trump and gang.
Click to expand...

milo_bill_maher_thats_not_unreasonable_trans_bathr_by_digi_matrix-dazu1i4.gif
 
Nuu said:
People literally think as if you get people to stop saying words on TV or in public, then racism will be curtail. It's ridiculous that this gets attention, meanwhile school segregation, job discrimination, and mass incarceration are turned a blind eye to. Which reminds me about Bill's New Rule, as this is actually the real reason why liberals can never win, but instead of addressing that Maher focused on "we need to be tough guys too!"



Not to the point where he and even HBO has to apologize.
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I don't think condemning Bill here has anything to do with turning a blind eye to more serious issues this country faces. I just see this an excuse for people to ignore how serious this particular situation is. In other words it's deflecting the blame from Bill and downplaying saying the N word so casually despite it's historical use. I don't see how accepting his apology will help with addressing systematic racism, but I also don't see how condemning this fucking idiot will hinder it. One does not affect the other.
 
knicks said:
Not funny any at all, and pretty stupid for saying it.

However, Bill Maher has probably been more outspoken for minorities than any other liberal TV personality. Again, of course it doesn't make it okay, but I think the lefts anger should be focused on Trump and gang.
Click to expand...

Oh there's plenty of that to go around.

If you think I can't split my attention then you should check my post history to see how I feel about Trump and the GOP.

We don't need allies like Maher when we have plenty of politically incorrect voices on the left that make better points without disparaging entire religions or using racial slurs.
 
D i Z said:
And I'm saying that he didn't even get to see much outcry before HBO called him up and was like "Yo. what the fuck was that???"

Outcry. lol
That's an argument designed to put fault on others, and not the perpetrator.

Dude saw his name being put in the ledger and his dollars about to dip.
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Well yeah, one consequence of the outrage would be that the guy stands to lose his livelihood. Whether you choose to believe that this would be the primary source of his regret is up to you. Not sure what you mean about outcry being designed to put the blame on others. This is all clearly squarely on him.
 
dakun said:
so Wayne Brady complains about Maher suggesting he's "not really black" then goes on to say about the black women Maher dated "it's questionable they are women"

Like you can't make this shit up..
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Brady had to show his ass. I think he caught a good amount of flak afterward.
 
Slayven said:
Comes across as apologizing to ease his mind. Is he regretting he said it because it was racist or because of the headache it is causing him professionally.?
Click to expand...

You and everyone else can decide which one of those to believe.

But the person I quoted and other people in this thread who clearly misread and think Bill is using tiredness as an excuse for what he said are just hearing what they want to hear, or aren't putting any effort in understanding what they read.
 
I'm forever conflicted about this dude. I'm OK with some it, and other times he just fucking sucks. (and that Milo episode erred on the side of pathetic, among other things he's done)

I don't particularly think he deserves the benefit of the doubt either, he's kinda an asshole, and this happening at all is a symptom of that fact.

I'm not interested in seeing him lose his job though, nah.
 
Slayven said:
Comes across as apologizing to ease his mind. Is he regretting he said it because it was racist or because of the headache it is causing him professionally.?
Click to expand...
That's typically what an apology is right? Apologizing because it's racist but NOT to ease his mind would be the cynical thing to do.

"I don't feel bad but I have to apologize so whatever"
 
curiouscharles said:
for those of us who didn't see it, more context please?

like, why'd he say it?

edit: okay, did some googling, saw the clip, holy fuck what the shit was that?!?
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Yeah, there was absolutely no reason to say it. He clearly said it for a joke, as he could have just let the "field hand" comment drop.

Which is the problem with Maher. He, like Seth McFarlane, thinks saying offensive shit just because it is offensive is funny.
 
Boy Wander said:
Well yeah, one consequence of the outrage would be that the guy stands to lose his livelihood. Whether you choose to believe that this would be the primary source of his regret is up to you. Not sure what you mean about outcry being designed to put the blame on others. This is all clearly squarely on him.
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I'm talking about the use of the word outcry by the original post that i quoted.
"Outcry" is a word used to switch the onus of offense from those that created offense to those that are offended. It's a child's understanding of the dynamic of guilt and consequence.
Shit is rampant on the internet and is massively prevalent here.
 
If I had said something that absolutely asinine I would have at least apologized the very moment I realized I f'ed up... which would not have been a day later.
 
My wife (who is black) loves watching his show and would not have been offended by this.

She's offended when her kids use it tough.
 
Gaz_RB said:
Those who aren't accepting his apology, what else do you want him to do?
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It's not even just the apology, but this is my read on Maher. He strikes me as the kind of guy who believes the word is just a word and that it shouldn't carry nearly as much weight as it does. Being an intelligent and public facing guy, he has the sense not to espouse these feelings out loud, and in most cases not use the word. However, the ease in which he made the joke probably stems from the fact that that outward condemnation of it is a facade that broke for a moment.

What do I want from him? I want an apology that acknowledges this and shows that he truly understands the power being the word and exactly why he shouldn't use it. Something that even hints at actual introspection, aside from the weak "I was up at night with regret, after the tons of shit I got from the media"
 
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