Bill Maher is once again finding himself at odds with a fellow late-night host ... and this time, he says the rift may be permanent. The Real Time host claims that a long-simmering feud has hit the point of no return.
On a recent episode of his Club Random podcast, Maher opened up about his strained relationship with Jimmy Kimmel, claiming the Jimmy Kimmel Live! host is “very mad” at him. It likely all stems from comments Maher made about Kimmel’s wife, Molly McNearney, and her political stance.
“Jimmy Kimmel, you know, he’s very mad at me and I know you’re close to him,” Maher told guest Adam Carolla, who co-hosted The Man Show with Kimmel from 1999 to 2004, and has since expressed political opinions drastically different than those of Kimmel. “I hope you tell him that I’m sorry that it got bent out of shape. I don’t think I did anything wrong. We can have disagreements."
Maher previously acknowledged the feud, suggesting it all began when he publicly criticized McNearney. Kimmel's wife and Jimmy Kimmel Live! writer revealed that she has cut off family members who continue to support President Donald Trump. Maher argued this was a step too far, but apparently his response irked Kimmel.
While Maher framed his comments as principled disagreement, he acknowledged the personal fallout. “I think he’s a great guy, and it bugs me that, you know, because of what the latest thing was, that, you know, we may never talk again,” Maher added.
Notably, Kimmel has not commented publicly on Maher’s claims. If there is a feud brewing, it’s one Maher seems more interested in discussing. Kimmel appears disinclined to make it a spectacle.
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Maher’s broader critique that late-night hosts often aim their punchlines primarily at Republicans is not new. For years, he has positioned himself as a liberal willing to criticize his own side, frequently taking shots at progressives and Democrats alongside conservative politics. It’s a stance he sees as intellectually consistent, even if it puts him at odds with others in late-night television.
That said, Kimmel arguably has earned a pass. The host has endured repeated attacks from right-wing politicians, including President Donald Trump, who has publicly mocked Kimmel and called for his job. Kimmel’s family has also been drawn into the political fray. In that context, his more one-sided critiques may feel more like direct responses.
It’s also worth noting that Maher has never been especially tight with the current crop of late-night hosts. While he has appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, he has largely operated in his own lane at HBO. Meanwhile, Kimmel, Stephen Colbert, and Seth Meyers have formed a visible camaraderie, frequently collaborating and supporting one another.
In fairness to the Real Time host, that dynamic may reinforce Maher’s argument that today’s late-night establishment shares a similar political lens. It also likely explains why he'll never be part of the group, no matter how much he may want to smooth things over with the likes of Kimmel.