Media

Maher apologizes for using racial slur

by Max Greenwood - 06/03/17 3:18 PM ET

Comedian Bill Maher apologized on Saturday for using a racial slur during a Friday interview with Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) on his HBO show.

“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,” Maher said in a statement. “The word was offensive and I regret saying it and am very sorry.”

During the interview, Maher and Sasse were bantering about the HBO host taking a trip to Nebraska, when Sasse told Maher, “we’d love to have you work in the fields with us.”

{mosads}

“Work in the fields? Senator, I’m a house n–ga,” Maher replied.

Maher’s use of the slur was condemned soon afterward by HBO, which called the comment “completely inexcusable” and saying that the channel would not air reruns of the episode including the epithet.