HBO is refusing to address Rose McGowan’s allegation that she was sexually harassed by comedian Bill Maher.
McGowan, an actress who is a leading figure in the #MeToo movement, accused the HBO late-night host of sexually harassing her while she was on the comedian’s show Politically Incorrect in the 1990s. Maher’s show ended in 2002, but he signed a contract with HBO shortly thereafter to begin Real Time with Bill Maher, which is still on the air.
After the actress made the allegation on social media on Friday night, the Washington Examiner made repeated requests for comment to HBO, sending emails and leaving voicemails. An HBO representative said, “HBO declined to comment,” to the Washington Examiner on Tuesday.
McGowan linked to a Twitter draft that detailed her experience on Maher’s show “in the late 90s.” She said she does not expect Maher to remember the incident but said, “I sure do.”
@BillMaher Here’s a memory I’d like to share with you. I bet you don’t remember, but I sure do. I was so excited to be on your show & get to flex my mind instead of my face. Here’s what happened. All I can say, Bill, you got the face you deserved. pic.twitter.com/RRIorKj258
— rose mcgowan (@rosemcgowan) May 9, 2020
“I was on your show Politically Incorrect in the late 90s — as the show returned from a commercial break, you leaned over to me & whispered in my ear, ‘my parents didn’t give me a good face, but they did give me a huge c—,'” she wrote. “I could feel your hot breath on my ear as an image of both your hideous face & alleged big c— flashed in my mind. Both turned my stomach. I’ve always wondered what you say & do to the girls that aren’t famous?”
McGowan, who has become a high-profile advocate for women’s rights and who has supported female actors who were abused by disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein, has levied scathing rebukes of both political parties for their handling of sexual assault and sexual harassment allegations.
