On Real Time with Bill Maher, the comedian gave his take on the allegations surrounding Sean “Diddy” Combs. And while Bill Maher condemned the music mogul, he also used the moment to critique the evolution of the #MeToo movement.
While Maher emphasized that Combs is “a really bad dude,” he also argued that society has changed enough in the eight years since the #MeToo movement began. According to Maher, abuse victims must report their abusers right away, not years later.
Maher’s "New Rule" segment began by mocking the media obsession with celebrity trials. But his tone quickly shifted as he acknowledged the very serious allegations against Combs, describing them as “violent” and “sick." From there, Maher proposed what he called a “grand bargain” for the modern era of #MeToo: society will take all accusations seriously, but in return, victims must come forward immediately.
He acknowledged that in the past, abuse victims had legitimate reasons to stay silent. Powerful men like Harvey Weinstein and Bill Cosby were once considered untouchable. Under those conditions, Maher said, it made sense for victims to try to extract “a receipt” or some benefit, since justice seemed unrealistic.
But in 2025, that’s no longer the case, says the Real Time host. Maher cited the convictions of Cosby, Weinstein, and R. Kelly, as well as legal reforms and a rise in sexual assault reporting, as evidence that the system has changed. “Operators are actually standing by to take your calls,” he argued.
Maher’s position is that continuing to tolerate abuse complicates public perception and legal outcomes. He criticized victims who remain in relationships with their abusers while sending affectionate texts or appearing to give consent, saying this behavior can undermine their claims in court.
While he acknowledged that leaving an abusive situation is never easy, Maher insisted that expecting women to do so is not victim-shaming, but empowering. He cited the example of Tina Turner, who escaped her abuser with almost nothing and still rebuilt her life and career.
Maher’s commentary was provocative as ever, proving that he's the one late-night TV host who will continually address the most controversial subjects. Whether everyone agrees is a different story, but there's no denying Maher's fearlessness when it comes to what topics he discusses.