Bill Maher Draws Backlash After Using Racial Slur

[Rev. Rye]

I think comedians with tv shows have the tough task of living a double life.  They have their comedian world, where race isn't dealt with in the same way, because all those people care about is if something is funny.   But then they are on tv, and they can be forced to answer to someone who's never watched their show, but saw that 15 second clip and is trying to organize a boycott to get them fired.

I'm amazed any of those people ever keep any gig with sponsors.

Remember the incident where Stephen Fry gave Jenny Beavan a BAFTA for her costume design on Mad Max: Fury Road and said: "Only one of the great cinematic costume designers would come to the awards ceremony dressed like a bag lady." And a bunch of people swarmed him on Twitter, not knowing (and likely not caring) that they were friends who had known each other for two decades at least and not even waiting to see if she took it in good humour. He eventually deleted his Twitter account. Fortunately it's back up, but you can see the problem here.