Bill Maher criticized for using racial slur on air

The Associated Press</span>
Published Saturday, June 3, 2017 2:54PM EDT
Last Updated Saturday, June 3, 2017 4:28PM EDT

LOS ANGELES -- Bill Maher is facing criticism for his use of a racial slur during a discussion with a Republican senator on his HBO talk show Friday night.

Maher was speaking with Republican Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska during a segment of his "Real Time with Bill Maher." Sasse joked that he would like to have Maher visit Nebraska and work in the fields, which prompted Maher to use a slur in a joke that he was a house slave.

The comedian immediately waved off audience groans.

Activists including the Rev. Al Sharpton quickly criticized Maher and it remained a top-ranked topic on Twitter on Saturday morning.

Sasse wrote Saturday that he wished he had immediately criticized Maher for using the term.

Maher's publicists did not respond to an email seeking comment.

"Bill Maher" was trending on Twitter, where the reaction was mixed.

NAN wants to meet w/ HBO asap about the normalizing of the use of the N word. I know and love Bill Maher but this is unacceptable. I will
— Reverend Al Sharpton (@TheRevAl) June 3, 2017

address this Bill Maher issue and our move on HBO at this morning's NAN Saturday Action Rally. My address is live at 10 am/et on Impact TV.
— Reverend Al Sharpton (@TheRevAl) June 3, 2017

Maybe Bill Maher need to watch Roots so he can understand what a House N had to endure it wasn't what he thinks @billmaher
— Miss Lin (@Misslinlou) June 3, 2017

Maybe don't be the white guy that tries to explain why it was okay for Bill Maher to say the n-word.
— Solomon Georgio (@solomongeorgio) June 3, 2017

I will defend Bill Maher and Kathy Griffin first Amendment rights even though I don't like them or agree with them on everything
— Demarkus Dickey (@DemarkusDickey) June 3, 2017

Bill Maher only brings Black people on his show to disrespect them with his racist white liberal talking points just so he can look good.
— Ᏸecca (@MJStarLover) June 3, 2017

It's not funny to use to the N word, it's just ignorant! But @billmaher is funny in general. One boo boo should not end a career!
— Chris Michael Ward (@ChrisMichaelW) June 3, 2017

People just now realizing Bill Maher is a spiteful intolerant racist, where the hell have you been for his entire career
— Atheer Yacoub (@AtheerYacoub) June 3, 2017

Hasn't Bill Maher's whole career pivoted on seeing just how much he can get away with? He's gotten way too many passes on the way here.
— Rachel Wedig (@rachelwedig) June 3, 2017

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