New Rule: don't be ableist on TV
TW: ableism, hatred, ageism, fatphobia, ableist slurs - also directed to CHILDREN
New rule: hateful people get de-platformed.
Though Bill Maher mostly got famous for roasting Republicans, he's made sure that everyone knows he can be just as hateful as a conservative, while still being an atheist who likes weed. His comments have enraged a variety of people, but like the Republicans he claims to hate, he's made racist, sexist, ableist, and Islamophobic comments. His previous show was called "Politically Incorrect" - which is a dog whistle phrase for people who want to say awful things about people and blame the backlash on opponents being "sensitive snowflakes."
There's a lot of comments to choose from, but keeping with the theme of Spoonful, I'd like to specifically discuss his ableist comments. Just know that he's said much, much more.
Children with Down Syndrome
"Politically Incorrect" 2006
This is probably his most popular ableist comment. It says a lot about him that I don't even feel comfortable quoting him directly. I'll be replacing the slur he used for Down Syndrome and mental disabilities with "[R-word(ed)]".
Though many grew up and went to middle school and learned that word was NOT okay, Bill Maher had not in 2001.
The clip of his comments is below - but be advised that it contains the use of [R word] often and is in the title of the clip as well. This is specifically directed at children with Down Syndrome.
Once he realizes that his comments comparing "[R-worded]" children to dogs angers the guests and the crowd - he doubles down and continues using the slur. A guest comments that her nephew has Down Syndrome and she doesn't think of him as a dog, but a human being.
"Well, maybe you should." He says; suggesting that she should dehumanize her nephew.
''I make no excuses, I was wrong and what I said was hurtful to people and I feel terrible about it.'' - Bill Maher following backlash
I might believe him - if he'd stopped there and tried to make it right in some way. However, he continued his comments - often about children with Down Syndrome.
President George W Bush Rant
2007
I couldn't find the exact time this episode aired, but in it he calls then-President George W Bush insane and a paranoid schizophrenic. I am far from a supporter of President Bush, but when you go on television and critique him for his poor leadership by comparing him to a severely mentally ill person, it won't hurt him - it will hurt the mentally ill and their loved ones.
Paranoid schizophrenia is a severe mental illness with one of the highest suicide rates (particularly in younger people). During a schizophrenic episode, a person can experience hallucinations, delusions, disorganized speech, and a lack of motivation. It's a complex disorder, but there are treatment options that allow people with the disorder to live active lives.
Though schizophrenic patients are not inherently more dangerous or violent than the general population, it is a highly, highly stigmatized disorder. When people with large platforms, like Bill Maher, use this condition to insult and show how inadequate their political decisions are, it furthers this attitude.
Maher made a conscious decision to call Bush schizophrenic instead of a corrupt and incompetent leader and in that decision, hurt an already oppressed minority.
The Coronavirus Pandemic
"Real Time with Bill Maher"
The covid-19 pandemic spread like wildfire throughout the globe and claimed over 6 million lives and infected 769 million people in three years and seven months. Many people have lasting damage from the infection and their lives were permanently altered. Supply chains and healthcare systems were strained and pushed beyond their limits.
But did we ever stop and consider that Bill Maher was tired of it and we should just ignore it and do whatever? According to him, we probably should have just learned how to live healthier lifestyles first.
The fact that "they" didn't was a "scandal" in his opinion. It brings back memories of the eugenic attitude of being dismissive of deaths of the elderly and disabled, and the false belief that "no healthy adults die of covid-19. " Collateral damage or a necessary pruning of family trees in order for society to grow bigger and better?
He back-pedaled a little bit (perhaps the realization that he seemed to be promoting a stronger superior society) and said that we should protect the vulnerable. He immediately contradicts himself by downplaying the risks covid-19 poses and again, suggests that it's mostly a disease that affects the elderly - "just like everything else."
He further digs himself into a hole and points to obesity as a huge factor. Obesity does increase the risk of adverse health effects, but it's important to remember that weight depends on so many factors and is not only dependent on diet and lifestyle. Obesity is often treated as the biggest factor in health outcomes, when it may just be a contributing factor. So to fat shame and focus so much on weight is irresponsible, often more harmful than helpful, and is just lazy thinking.
And fat shame he did: he suggested that health organizations should have focused on getting people to exercise, eat right, and take vitamins a lot more than they did. This type of thinking is lazy as well and not compatible with reality. Even if everyone in the world was in perfect health: slim, active, no vitamin deficiencies, and no health issues; covid-19 still would have been devastating. That's what viruses do and their entire existence is infecting as many hosts as possible and mutating to become better at it.
Final Thoughts
There are unfortunately more incidents that I could have added to this article. His go-to comments tend to focus on the R-word and despite being told by Timothy Shriver, the Chairman of the Special Olympics and a disability rights advocate, how using the slur is harmful to the disabled community. He hides behind the mask of a comedian and "honest" political pundit, but there is no mask large enough or beautiful enough to hide the ugly hatred and intolerance of the wearer.
We can't always stop the spread of harmful biases, but we can, perhaps, work to de-platform those who encourage and foster it. If you agree, please take time to add your name to the petition calling on HBO to cancel his show and take one great leap in the right direction. The fact that he has been on the air this long and his problematic comments have been covered so well is unacceptable.
Click here to sign the petition
Bonus
Bill Maher is a comedian, but I've noticed that he hasn't had very many funny jokes lately, so I've provided him with some suggestions for insults or comments if he reads this:
"Who?" This is funny because I don't have a large audience or platform
Something about walking - this is funny because I can't walk very well
Something about my bladder or bowels - this is a totally normal and not creepy fascination people have with disabled people…
Those are just a few tips to get you started; I wish you luck - I'm not easily embarrassed.
View Eddy Burback's video on Bill Maher for a better idea of how Maher is:
