Bill Maher mocks Tokyo Olympics over ‘woke’ attitude and condemns cancel culture
Late-night host denies his politics have changed, saying instead that he is reacting to political views that have shifted
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Bill Maher has despaired over so-called “cancel culture” and called it “an insanity that is swallowing up the world”.
The late-night TV host’s New Rules monologue in the newly returned Real Time on HBO featured a criticism of the ongoing Tokyo Olympic Games, in which he compared it to this year’s Oscars ceremony.
During the segment, Maher listed various examples at this year’s Summer Games where officials had come under scrutiny over historic behaviour – in some cases incidents that took place decades ago.
This included the opening ceremony’s musical director who was criticised over a 1994 interview, in which he admitted to bullying fellow students when he was a child.
“Remember when your teacher used to scare you, they’d say ‘You know, this is going to go down on your permanent record.’?” Maher said. “No longer an empty threat.”
In the clip, he also addressed claims that his political stance has shifted, responding: “I am reacting to politics that have [changed].”
He used the hashtag #WokeOlympics as he shared the clip on Twitter, adding: “How bad does this atmosphere we’re living in have to get before the people who say cancel culture is overblown admit it is in fact an insanity that is swallowing up the world?”
“Snitches and bitches, that’s not being liberal,” he said.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments