I've expressed my opinion on the matter. You disagree. That's the end of our conversation.
Bill Maher apologizes for N-word. HBO/Sasse also comment
- Thread starter xDUMPWEEDx
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DR2K
Banned
Because it's good optics. Which is deep down what the people demanding an apology want. Black people aren't going to run around hurt by what Bill Maher said, but the precedent he tried to set was a lot more damaging. Being black and walking outside is all people of color need to experience everyday racism.
They want their word back, they want to shame and or punish the person using it, and they want to set an example for anyone in the future. An apology accomplishes that regardless of the sincerity.
Sarcastic Poster
Member
Haha, I see his apology has made amends.
lightskintwin
Banned
y'mean Fat Joe? Nuyoricans have said it for decades because of the intersection between them and Blacks in NY. Big Pun said it all the time.
The only time I recall backlash is when J.Lo said it, and by that time she was a mainstream superstar.
I don't think doing a stand up routine makes saying those types of comments more okay
Ok then. Be well until Monday, friend.
OG Shaka Zulu
Member
Yup. I'm all good with Latinos here saying the n-word. Similar experience in NYC and they have Black blood anyway (worst kept secret lol). They just got off a different stop from massa's ship.
When did being a comedian become a shield for being asshole?
Andrew Dice Clay hit his prime way too early
Did you just combine Fat Joe and Big Pun?
Same shit lol.
Which is why the idea that there is no distinction with non black people is coming from a place of someone who is really old or separated from other ethnic groups.
Hell, Asians say it down here with no issue too.
lightskintwin
Banned
Yeah, as long as they keep it in NY, because those dynamics change in other states with different Latino ethnicities; for instance it's different between Mexicans and Blacks in Cali.
Social/Racial dynamics change depending upon the area. I've heard plenty of Asians say it amongst themselves and call themselves it, but knew better than use it within my presence or towards me.
Lord Frieza
Member
My main conflict with this is that I no longer really care for Bill, even though he understands politics well despite his total lack of cultural insight, but I like his show. Mainly because it's not really his show, it's a casual panel debate show with interviews in the front-end and back-end most of the time. It's pretty much the only show of its kind on American TV, at least that I know of, and while he sometimes has dud panels, I almost always feel like I come back with some kind of insight from his shows from someone he invites in some form.
Even this show, the guest that he was interviewing was a GOP Senator who was trying hard to sound reasonable about climate change denial, but was shut down at basically every turn by Bill, and later the panel discussed it, too.
I don't think Maher is really a malicious racist, but I guess what they call a diet racist, which is just as bad in different ways. He's got a great mind for politics, but he's the typical aging old white guy who is just so disconnected from the shifting culture of America, it's hindering the good parts of the show and he just needs to go at this point.
It isn't just the n-word bit or the Islamophobia that tells me this. In this very interview, which was about a book about how America's young adults aren't 'growing up,' or what the fuck ever, he asked Sasse how we talk to convince people who 'eat cereal for dinner, think it's still okay to dress up for Halloween, and think comic books are actually literature' they suck (paraphrasing obviously, but basically what he said).
I'm not saying that is nearly as bad as the other two things, but it shows how out of touch he ultimately is, especially with a group of up and coming viewers and voters who he clearly doesn't understand at. I wish that he would just hand the show off to someone else, tell his regulars to give the new guy a chance, and retire. I'm not sure who would take the seat, but the concept of the show is worth saving, even if Maher really isn't.
Even this show, the guest that he was interviewing was a GOP Senator who was trying hard to sound reasonable about climate change denial, but was shut down at basically every turn by Bill, and later the panel discussed it, too.
I don't think Maher is really a malicious racist, but I guess what they call a diet racist, which is just as bad in different ways. He's got a great mind for politics, but he's the typical aging old white guy who is just so disconnected from the shifting culture of America, it's hindering the good parts of the show and he just needs to go at this point.
It isn't just the n-word bit or the Islamophobia that tells me this. In this very interview, which was about a book about how America's young adults aren't 'growing up,' or what the fuck ever, he asked Sasse how we talk to convince people who 'eat cereal for dinner, think it's still okay to dress up for Halloween, and think comic books are actually literature' they suck (paraphrasing obviously, but basically what he said).
I'm not saying that is nearly as bad as the other two things, but it shows how out of touch he ultimately is, especially with a group of up and coming viewers and voters who he clearly doesn't understand at. I wish that he would just hand the show off to someone else, tell his regulars to give the new guy a chance, and retire. I'm not sure who would take the seat, but the concept of the show is worth saving, even if Maher really isn't.
Discotheque
Banned
Yeah I love his show but he's such a cranky out of touch old man. And he digs into some of his more irritating talking points all too often now
I don't want his show to be cancelled. It's the only one of its kind right now. And Larry Wilmores attempt at it was frankly some banal garbage.
But I would like him to step down and be replaced by somebody as edgy but more progressive culturally
I don't want his show to be cancelled. It's the only one of its kind right now. And Larry Wilmores attempt at it was frankly some banal garbage.
But I would like him to step down and be replaced by somebody as edgy but more progressive culturally
Lord Frieza
Member
It depends on context. Carlin has a routine where he said the word multiple times, but the whole point of the routine was the word, and words in general, have almost no real meaning and it's all about the context (which often gets misused, as it did in the original thread as a defense of using the word freely, missing the whole point). Apparently Louis CK has one similar, but I don't know much about that.
Probably one that's really borderline for a lot would be Bill Hicks's skit about the LA Riots where he talks about the beating of Rodney King, and one of the key police officers involved was actually named Officer Koon. He sort of acts out a scene where "Officer Koon, Officer Keep Darkie Down, and Officer Nigger Hater" try to 'help' King get up by beating the shit out of him. I don't know if that would fly nowadays, but it's probably one you could make an actual artistic argument for since it comments on the cruel irony of Officers not only be accused of being racist, but their names literally being racist slurs.
lightskintwin
Banned
Context is everything, otherwise you're just being triggered by words.
Muffdraul
Member
Do you honestly think that's what he said in his apology? Read it again.
Nah. I mean there are valid reasons to hate what he said, but when I read stuff like "he just wants to say it" I feel like they are projecting their opinions on why people make jokes like this. The joke came from the "plantation" comment and he was trying to continue connect it directly to slavery. He dismissed it almost immediately after saying it, and showed no signs of doubling down on it or preparing to defend it
biggersmaller
Banned
To me, context is important and this is what seperates him from someone like Bob Beckel at Fox. He didn't call someone it and he didn't use it to generalize or demean black people. It was a terrible joke directed at himself in the moment and he - and HBO - agree it was in terrible taste to use that word. Apologized.
People are allowed to make mistakes. In this case the punishemrent shouldn't be for him to be taken off the air IMHO.
People are allowed to make mistakes. In this case the punishemrent shouldn't be for him to be taken off the air IMHO.
biggersmaller
Banned
Right. He was riffing on a plantation joke. It was wrong but he wasn't actually be racist with that comment. Again I want it be made clear: it WAS wrong of him say that.
Exactly.
Where is all this "mistake" bullshit even coming from? The Milo incident wasn't even THAT long ago and he did a whole bunch-a-bullshit there to be rightfully pissed at.
Also, re: pretty much anything he's said about Muslims.
This latest "gaffe" is one of many.
Some of y'all are seriously reaching for this douche's coat and it is, frankly, disappointing.
I'm more concerned about the stuff he's said about Islam, that aren't jokes, that HBO has not made him apologize for.
Edit: what he said was shocking, but it was clearly a joke. One that myself and the live audience found funny.
A Link to the Past
Banned
Because he invited Milo on his show and allowed him to spread transphobic propaganda
Captin Quacker
Member
Let be real, had HBO not stepped in do y'all really think he woulda apologized for this?
biggersmaller
Banned
I actually agree with a lot he says about Islam. It's not an indefensible point of view he takes. From what what I've seen, he essentially has a big problem with Muslims that don't kill people being labeled "peaceful" or "moderate." When a large part that classification is extremely anti gay and against women's rights. Which as a liberal he has a big problem with. He takes a similar stand against Christians from what I've seen.
Spoiled Milk
Banned
He thinks religion is a dangerous delusion that costs lives and oppresses people. He made a whole movie about it.
Lord Frieza
Member
This, quite frankly, is a lie. While it's true he's said similar stuff, this isn't his only stance on Islam, and it's not the stance that gets him in trouble. It's the fact that he continues to associate ISIS/ISIL with Islam. Something Muslims are trying very hard to disassociate with Islam as a radical group that Islam, by and large, rejects. He's even said before that ISIS is an army for Islam. It's basically full right-wing rhetoric just short of calling for internment or banning. It's culturally tone-deaf to what Muslims are going through, and it's not a reasonable point of view. It's a dangerous one.
lol
All around me are familiar faces, worn out places, worn out faces
MadJackChurchill
Banned
I've gone 2 days without sleep numerous times. I've still never had the n-word slip my lips. That's not an excuse. You clearly made light of the word and you clearly deserve some extremely harsh criticism and reflection.
Lord Frieza
Member
Didn't realize the MLK card got played already
Claude Augario
Member
Does it count as a joke when it's not funny?
Is it a mistake when he had every intention of saying it?
Does something count as an apology when it's generic enough to be applied to any number of offenses?
Is it a mistake when he had every intention of saying it?
Does something count as an apology when it's generic enough to be applied to any number of offenses?
andthebeatgoeson
Junior Member
It's times like this when i wonder what Cornell West thinks about this.
Yeah that made no sense to me either. When Maher gets tired his dictionary includes that word?!
OG Shaka Zulu
Member
This is too funny man. I want all future n bomb dropping to be blamed on lack of sleep.
OG Shaka Zulu
Member
LMAO hahaha. Sleep deprivation is the new economic anxiety.
Mammoth Jones
Member
Really not feeling good about Maher doing this shit. So yea fuck him.
To be fair, he isn't blaming a lack of sleep for using the word. Using the word caused his lack of sleep.
Bruce Springsteen
Member
He wasn't being racist, he was making a bad poorly executed joke about race. The uproar over this is ridiculous
Which race was he making the joke about?
TestOfTide
Banned
Oh so now its not racist if it's a joke?
Is this like when what's his name claimed he wasn't abusing his kids cause it was just a prank?
MadJackChurchill
Banned
Misread it. So he actually has no poor excuse at all. He's just a guy that will allow himself to say the n-word.
DangerMouse
Member
Yeah, I don't get it this is right in his apology.
Bill Maher said:
Nowhere in there is he blaming a lack of sleep, in fact he's saying the opposite, doing this kept him up at night since he couldn't accept that he did it.
.
Glad he apologized for doing this though and didn't double down or anything like that.
Fucking black women doesn't give you a pass for saying the n-word. Bill was an edgy loud mouth so I'm not surprised he tried to do this after railing religions and inviting Milo to rail transpeople.
How is he actually sorry when he shows 0 respect to so many other groups on the regular?
How is he actually sorry when he shows 0 respect to so many other groups on the regular?
Bruce Springsteen
Member
Speaking negatively about whites, why else would he make a joke referring to times of slavery?
It was a BAD AND POORLY EXECUTED joke