Bill Maher Claims Jimmy Kimmel Is Furious With Him
Bill Maher says Jimmy Kimmel is “very mad” at him, opening up about their tension in a recent “Club Random” podcast interview with Adam Carolla. Carolla and Kimmel were co-hosts on Comedy Central’s “The Man Show” from 1999 to 2004, which gives them a shared history Maher referenced during the conversation.
“Jimmy Kimmel, you know, he’s very mad at me and I know you’re close to him,” Maher told Carolla. “I hope you tell him that I’m sorry that it got bent out of shape. I don’t think I did anything wrong. We can have disagreements. I mean, you and I don’t agree on everything, look at this clash now, and yet we’re cool.”
Maher explained that his political commentary often clashes with others, especially on the left. “My tribe is supposed to be the left, but these are the people who just can’t talk to you unless you’re exactly there, whereas the Republicans, they always f***** come to my show. John Kennedy from Louisiana was on last week, took his beating like a man, like they all do, and we came across lovingly and smilingly and happily and we can disagree,” he said.
The “Real Time” host emphasized that he will continue to challenge both sides of the political spectrum. “I don’t just buy into the left-wing bull****, and I never stop making fun of the right-wing bu***** at all! And like, if that’s not good enough for you, then I think you’re the a****,” Maher said. “I don’t think Jimmy is an a*****… I think he’s a great guy, and it bugs me that, you know, because of what the latest thing was, that, you know, we may never talk again.”
Maher didn’t specify exactly why Kimmel is upset, but it seems tied to a “Real Time” episode last November. During that episode, Maher responded to comments made by Kimmel’s wife, Molly McNearney, about her family’s support for Donald Trump. McNearney revealed in an interview on the “We Can Do Hard Things” podcast that she had ended relationships with relatives who supported Trump. She explained that she struggled with these relationships because of her husband’s public political feud with the former president.
“To me, them voting for Trump is them not voting for my husband and me and our family,” she said. “Unfortunately, I have lost relationships with people in my family because of it.”
Maher criticized the approach, saying ultimatums do not change anyone’s politics. “She says she’s lost relationships with relatives because she wrote them an email before the election with ten reasons why they shouldn’t vote for Trump, and some still didn’t obey, so you know. Ultimatums. Ten reasons? I can think of 100. But I would never present it to someone as an ultimatum. Ultimatums don’t make people rethink their politics. They make them rethink you,” he said on “Real Time.”
On the December episode of “Club Random,” Maher reflected on Kimmel’s reaction. “I was as kid-gloved as I could. And I see they’re mad at me. Uh, I’m sorry. I mean, I was being, again, as respectful as I could, but I don’t agree with that point of view. And since she went public with it, it wasn’t out of school for me to go public with it. I love Jimmy. I’ve always have. I don’t know him that well, but he’s a great guy… I hope we’re friends forever, but I don’t know. You know, the liberals and the woke, that’s a schism. It just is.”
It’s clear Maher values honesty in his commentary, even if it causes tension with fellow comedians. This exchange highlights the challenges of navigating political opinions in Hollywood.
It’s interesting to see two major TV personalities like Maher and Kimmel clash over politics while still showing respect for each other. It shows that even friends in entertainment can strongly disagree without turning into outright enemies. What do you think about Maher and Kimmel’s feud? Share your thoughts in the comments.