Bill Maher Apologizes for ‘Real Time’ Racial Slur

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Bill Maher, host of Real Time on HBO, apologized Saturday for using a racial slur while speaking with Senator Ben Sasse of Nebraska during a live broadcast. The slur happened a little after 10 p.m. Friday. 

HBO said Maher’s remark was “completely inexcusable and tasteless,” and that it would be edited out of future airings.

Maher said in a statement: “Friday nights are always my worst night of sleep because I’m up reflecting on the things I should or shouldn’t have said on my live show. Last night was a particularly long night as I regret the word I used in the banter of a live moment. The word was offensive and I regret saying it and am very sorry.”

Michael Malone
Michael Malone

Michael Malone is content director at B+C and Multichannel News. He joined B+C in 2005 and has covered network programming, including entertainment, news and sports on broadcast, cable and streaming; and local broadcast television, including writing the "Local News Close-Up" market profiles. He also hosted the podcasts "Busted Pilot" and "Series Business." His journalism has also appeared in The New York Times, The L.A. Times, The Boston Globe and New York magazine.