Bill Maher Issues a Bold Political Message About Charlie Kirk’s Death
Bill Maher issued a bold response to Charlie Kirk‘s death while also fact-checking panelist Ben Shapiro on his late-night show.
On the Friday, September 12 episode of Real Time With Bill Maher, the comedian sat down with Shapiro and The Atlantic writer Tim Alberta. They discussed freedom of speech and how it intersects with the death of Kirk, a conservative activist and the founder of Turning Point USA, who was fatally shot on September 10 while speaking at Utah Valley University.
“He was shot under a banner that said, ‘Prove Me Wrong’ because he was a debater. Too many people think the way to do that, to prove you wrong, is to just eliminate you from talking altogether,” Maher pointed out. “So, the people who mocked his death or justified it, I think you’re gross, I have no use for you. The people who are saying now we’re at war, I have no use for you.”
During the trio’s chat, Shapiro brought up a poll that revealed only 58% of Gen Z say there is “no excuse for violence in response to speech.” Alberta confirmed that polling is “pointing in the wrong direction” when it comes to how acceptable political violence is.
However, disagreement came between Maher and Shapiro when they started discussing the political leanings of Kirk’s alleged shooting suspect, who was taken into custody earlier on September 12.
“If we are not politically correct, then we understand that if there’s a shooting at a synagogue, it is very likely to be either a white supremacist or a radical Muslim,” Shapiro said. “If it is a shooting of a Republican politician, it is very likely to be a trans, antifa, Marxist shooter.”
“That is just not true,” Maher replied. “We don’t know what this kid is.”
After Shapiro tried to back up his claim, Maher said, “It’s two days out, we don’t know s***, Ben. The internet is undefeated in getting it wrong to begin with.”
Additionally, Maher observed that, based on social media comments he saw, Kirk’s death proved that “people are in such a bubble that they don’t understand that it’s happening on both sides.”
That’s when he boldly declared, “The only way this starts to get better is if both sides admit, ‘OK, let’s not have this debate about who started it. Let’s not debate about who’s worse because, plainly, both sides do it now.’ And the right has done it too. A lot.”
Real Time With Bill Maher, Fridays, 10/9c, HBO
Conversation11 Comments
Please read the TV Insider Community Guidelines.
Comments are closed on this story.
-
O
Maher has become too gullible. Debate? Certainly there is no excuse for violence. It’s unacceptable in every form. However, right before he was shot Kirk was asked by an audience member, “How many of the recent shooters were trans?” Kirk answered, “too many!” That’s not debating it’s expressing a political belief. Debate is about presenting a contention and backing it with facts or logic. Kirk certainly had the right to give his point of view. He used debate as a logic technique called a straw man to disguise a series of unsupported positions.
30
-
O
I disagree that saying “too many” recent shooters have been transsexuals is a political belief. Its simply an opinion anyone could form based on recent events. In fact, I would argue that someone more left of center - especially in the transsexual community - would agree with Kirk’s answer.
2
-
P
The quote that you presented was taken out of context. The questioner first asked Kirk how many recent shootings, in general, have there been, to which he replied, "Too many." It was then that the questioner followed up by asking how many of them were trans, to which he replied, "Too many." It was clear to anyone who watched that exchange that his main emphasis was that there were too many shootings, period. To isolate that one part of the exchange is to seek an agenda. Certainly in the wake of the church shooting in Minneapolis, where the perpetrator left behind writings indicating self-hatred over gender identity and internal conflict over receiving gender-affirming care, as well as other recent acts of violence carried out by trans activists, there is, at the very least, a discussion that must be had regarding mental illness among people who struggle with gender identity and the improper care they receive, especially young people who have not fully gone through puberty and whose brains have not fully developed. An assassin's bullet prevented Kirk from having that discussion. Post-script: Any debate on a topic of this sensitive nature is going to be political, and the "straw man" argument you asserted could easily be made against you for taking a stance on an out-of-context excerpt of dialog which never had a chance to be fully engaged.
27
-
P
Clarification: The question about mass shooters who were trans preceded the question about mass shooters in general. After Kirk said, "Too many," in response to the first question, the questioner provided the specific number and agreed that it was too many. The follow-up question about mass shooting in general appeared to be leading into a discussion about gun control and mental illness, be it pervasive in society as a whole as well as the trans community, but it never reached that point because a violent intervention prevented a healthy discourse.
-
-
B
The problem is that you say “However”.
THAT is not just the problem, it is the root of the problem.
-
-
B
Let's get back to common sense we were taught the golden rules, but yet they all tarnish by some crazy lunatics. It's not worth it. Life is too short as we know. Agree to disagree you don't have to pout when things don't go each other's ways. Just move on to communicate is much better than to eradicate people.
15
-
T
Currently, reports are coming out that his own family say he was indoctrinated by left leaning ideologies. He has been politically active the past 3 yrs. It is true we don't know everything yet, but it is starting to seem more and more that this is the case.
8
-
T
You mean people still listen to the hypocrite Bill Mayer.....the once Trump hater now sucker up to same?
7
-
B
Ben was right there shooters partner was a transgender
5
-
O
Sometimes, the truth hurts. I agree with maybe 40% of what Shapiro says, but in this case he was spot on target.
2
-
T
Maher has become constantly inconsistent in his rationale for his opinions, but maintains his arrogance that his opinions trump (no pun intended) those of his guests.
Watchlist Easy access to only the shows you care about — all in one simple place
Alerts Only important notifications — when a show is returning, when it becomes available to stream, and more.
Special Offers Exclusive products we release related to your favorite shows and streaming services