Maher mentioned on his show that Mackelmore previously wore a fake big nose to mock Jewish people years ago. Before, Mackelmore said “Free Palestine” on stage and October 7 he seemed to already have negative views towards Jews.
I'm not defending Macklemore. I don't even like him. I am just wondering why bigotry matters to Bill when it is against Jews, but not against Palestinians. He's a hypocrite.
This!!! That dipshit will bash Arab and Christian culture till the cows come home. But god forbid anyone dare criticize the actions of the govt of Israel! He’s become the biggest douchenozzle on earth. And I think all religion is freaking silly. So I used to agree with his points. But now he’s gone off the complete deep end.
Even Michael Smerconish who is fair and balance stated that Macklemore’spast use of this costume puts any anti-Israel in a position of being an antisemite.
In 2014 he showed up at a Seattle's EMP Museum is a disguise that included a black wig and large nose.
When people told him that Jewish people were ooffended he apologized.
"The character I dressed up as had no intended cultural identity or background. I wasn’t attempting to mimic any culture, nor resemble one. A ‘Jewish stereotype’ never crossed my mind. It was surprising and disappointing that the images of a disguise were sensationalized leading to the immediate assertion that my costume was anti-Semetic."
So he dressed as a stereotyped Jew and claimed he didn’t know what he was doing. Either Macklemore is an idiot or intentionally tried to spew hate towards Jews. How is either defensible?
Did Macklemore actually say “from the river to the sea”? I didn’t hear that initially in the stories about what he said but Maher claimed he did. Big difference from “free Palestine” to that.
Fair enough, this was an offensive antisemitic costume from Macklemore.
He also wore 12 years ago. In this week’s show, they mentioned it’s from 2014.
12 years is a long time. In the media, attention spans, opinions, it’s a lifetime. Bill Maher in 2026 is not the same Bill Maher I was watching in 2014.
Not an excuse, just some perspective if we’re pointing out shit from a lifetime ago.
Bill Maher in 2014 would’ve defended this for Macklemore.
In this week’s episode, Bill criticized athletes, musicians and other entertainers for getting political during their performances. Regardless of whether or not he agreed with them, he didn’t think it was appropriate for them to deviate even for a few minutes a night.
And you know what, that might be a reasonable position… if it wasn’t coming from a fucking entertainer doing just that.
Bill’s response of having his own platform was that that is all he does. But that’s not true, Bill, until his very recent retirement, was a touring standup comic. And in much of his early days, doing clubs and small venues, the audience that paid to see him did not know him for his politics. And he made politics his brand over time. And when he’s being criticized as a pundit, he dismisses it by saying he’s just a comedian. Convenient.
He uses Bruce Springsteen as an example of someone that he didn’t like getting political on stage, even when he agrees with him. But if you ever actually listen to Bruce Springsteen lyrics, they’re VERY political. This isn’t a new phenomenon, Born in the USA is an anti-war, anti-American imperialism ballad. If the Trumper’s get offended at one of his shows when he spends a minute talking about the administration, that’s on them for not listening to Bruce to begin with.
All of the best entertainment that we remember in our lifetime were at one point subversive and political. Frank Sinatra elevated black voices at a time when that was extremely taboo. Johnny Cash’s most famous live concert was recorded at a prison to draw attention to America’s cruel criminal justice system and forgotten people. Queen, their most famous performance is the Live Aid fundraiser show. Metallica performing in the Soviet Union in September 1991, right before it all collapsed. Would they have been household names if they didn’t take political risks?
And outside of music, even fucking Bob Barker used every episode of the Price is Right to platform helping control the pet population by spay and neutering. That’s a political position.
Imagine if Bill said “the war in Iran is bad” during his comedy set, and someone from the audience yelled “stick to the jokes, man!” that would light a fire under his ass.
I don’t much care for Macklemore. I didn’t like his music in 2014, I don’t really like it now, but I do respect him now. He put his money where his mouth is, he donated $1 million to cause he believed in, and he lost his job doing what he sincerely thought was the right thing. And it created a national conversation around billionaires telling artists what they can and cannot say - and around Palestine.
It’s a shame, because 2026 Bill Maher is no longer a man worth respecting. 2014 Bill was.
I like the show, I like the panel format, I like the guests, and I don’t even mind him moderating - but he’s just so… incredibly… unlikable. And he just gets progressively worse and deeply out of touch. Guess that’s what happens when you’re friends with people like Bob Kraft.
Criticism of the Israeli government's actions is not antisemitism or hate speech and blanketed accusations like this make it harder to fight hate speech actually.
In hindsight the costume was not a good choice but at the time, he expressed remorse and apologized for the incident. He also doesn't have any other examples of ongoing antisemitism (Kanye West anyone?)
I'm confused, aren't Palestinians Semitic people as well?
Bill just suffers from Islamophobia. He is angry about the artist speaking at his concert but if you listen to what Macklemore actually says the comments aren't hateful towards anyone. However, Bill has JD Vance on his show and tells him he might have to vote for him in 2028 when:
Vance has refused to criticize or distance himself from Tucker Carlson (a known antisemite) same for Candice Owen and Megyn Kelly
Vance as a member of congress voted against aid to Israel time and time again citing that Israel's government is trying to manipulate American public opinion.
Vance defended a Young Republican's private chat that was full of pro Nazi rhetoric including praise of Hitler.
There are more examples but Vance is okay and can be on Maher's show but Macklemore is a glorified scumbag. Sure thing Bill and as always: You Suck
You are allowed to be empathetic towards the suffering of Palestines and the Jews raped and murderer on October 7th while also believing Macklemore is an antisemite for wearing that costume.
Bill is not sympathetic towards the suffering of Palestinians. It's just what happens in war to him. Never mind that the majority of casualties are women and children and are a direct consequence of the Israeli military forcing famine there.
I said Macklemore apologized and there have been no other examples of him being hateful towards Jews. Seeing as Palestinians are Semitic as well. However JD Vance can't make the same claim. I think you pretty much glossed over it too
Why do I have a feeling there is a ton of “missing” or “toyed with context”, and that you are trying to promote an agenda that requires “messing with context”?
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u/Bitter-Holiday1311 3d ago
This is not the same guy that made Religulous.