HBO Promises To Memory Hole Video Of Bill Maher Saying The N-Word
June 3, 2017, 3:08 p.m.
Nebraska senator Ben Sasse was amused by the uh, joke.

Tfw you're making America sane again or whatever.
Bill Maher, last seen in these parts failing to find a problem with Milo Yiannopolous' bigotry, is in hot water again. This time, it's because during an interview with Nebraska senator and professional millennial basher Ben Sasse, Maher inexplicably and smugly threw the n-word into the interview, as one does.
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
Sasse was on the show to promote his book about how millennials are all soft children, when he told Maher he would happily invite him to come work in the fields with him. Maher declined, telling Sasse that he was "a house n*gger" as the audience and Sasse all laughed. As it turns out though, people are angry at Maher for thinking he can just casually say the word like it has no seriously ugly racial history or anything.
Bill Maher just said the n word, @BenSasse didn't look horrified, and the audience applauded. pic.twitter.com/kFAs1S3dyM
— Yashar Ali (@yashar) June 3, 2017
Bill maher been calling muslims the nword for months now if we're being real deal Holyfield.
— Desus Nice (@desusnice) June 3, 2017
Proposition: white people can say nigger if black people can slap the taste out of their mouth every time they do.
— Akilah Hughes (@AkilahObviously) June 3, 2017
Yes, Virginia, you really are supposed to stop the in-group casual n-bombs. Like, bare minimum here.
— Tressie Mc (@tressiemcphd) June 3, 2017
When the cocktail waitress objects to being called "sweetie." pic.twitter.com/qb1gN2I3vJ
— David Roth (@david_j_roth) June 3, 2017
Please @HBO Do Not Air Another Episode Of Real Time With Bill Maher.
— Lil Chano From 79th (@chancetherapper) June 3, 2017
HBO agreed that Maher saying the n-word was unacceptable and has vowed swift action, promising to "remove the comment" from future reruns of the episode. Ah, that oughta do it, just pretend like it never happened, that'll show him.
Sasse eventually apologized, hours after firing off some tweets promoting the interview, in a series of tweets that he quoted in on themselves instead of just threading them. Maybe he should get a millennial to teach him how to do that?
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
Maher apologized this afternoon for using the word "in a moment of banter" and said he was "very sorry."
In a statement, @billmaher says the word he used "was offensive and I regret saying it and am very sorry." pic.twitter.com/7IBU2DJyvY
— Dave Itzkoff (@ditzkoff) June 3, 2017
He could probably stand to take some lessons from Val Kilmer:
Once filming w/50 Cent my character had a line w/ the Nword. He said "Go ahead and say it I give u permission" It wouldn't come out my face.
— Val Kilmer (@valkilmer) March 4, 2017