Comedian and talk show host Bill Maher blasted cancel culture for creating a society that “can’t take a joke.”
On HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher broadcast Friday, Maher said Generation Z elite college students have replaced old ladies in the Bible Belt who cannot appreciate a joke.
“Kids used to go to college and lose their virginity. Now, they go to lose their sense of humor,” Maher said. “For all those who are constantly demanding an apology for jokes, maybe it’s you who should apologize to us for all the great jokes that we never got to hear, the brilliant thoughts that were never uttered. Those are the invisible scars of cancel culture.”
Maher pointed to Chris Rock’s “G.I. Jane” joke at the Oscars about Jada Pinkett Smith’s bald hairdo, caused by alopecia, which led to the shocking moment when Will Smith walked onto the stage and slapped Rock in disapproval.
The host noted that Will Smith was initially laughing until he noticed his wife, Jada, upset.
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“I’ve seen the same syndrome happen in comedy clubs, woke hecklers who literally have to wait for the laughter to die down before they yell, ‘That’s not funny!’” Maher said. “This war on jokes must end. Will Smith didn’t get kicked out of the Oscars for going Ike Turner on Chris, but Kevin Hart got kicked out of hosting it for a joke.”
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Maher admitted that comedians can be tasteless but said that the level of sensitivity has gone too far.
“Who are these people who say cancel culture isn’t a real thing?” Maher added. “Just among comedians who’ve gotten fired and lost gigs for exercising their freedom of expression, the toll is high. Gilbert Gottfried and Kathy Griffin were tasteless. So what? That’s why we like them. Comedians are the ones testing where the line is. We can’t always be perfect any more than Tom Brady will never throw an interception.”
