Bill Maher is once again taking aim at celebrities who wade into politics. And this time, the Real Time with Bill Maher host did it with one sitting right across from him.
During a recent episode of his Club Random podcast, Maher poked fun at guest Jerry O'Connell after the actor revealed his support for Kamala Harris during the 2024 election. Maher couldn't let that tidbit go without jumping in to comment.
“Wow. Oof,” he responded, before launching into a broader monologue that’s become a familiar talking point for the comedian. According to Maher, the relationship between celebrities and Democrats is doing far more harm than good.
“Democrats really need to cut loose the celebrities. They’re not helping,” Maher said, arguing that famous supporters often damage the party’s image. “They don’t strike people as normal [because] they’re f***ing not. Democrats already have a problem with people thinking that they are not the common-sense crowd.”
Maher continued by mocking politically outspoken celebrities, suggesting their wealth and lifestyle make them inherently out of touch. “They don’t act like normal people,” he said, adding that as a result, “whatever they’re saying just strikes everybody in America who’s a normal person as, ‘Oh God, here’s more of this stuff where you can’t relate to a real life.’”
It’s a stance Maher has echoed repeatedly on Real Time with Bill Maher, where he has urged Democrats to distance themselves from Hollywood voices and focus more on messaging that resonates with everyday voters.
Back in February, Maher laid out his case for why Democrats should tell celebrities to "shut the f*** up" when it comes to politics. Again, the comedian argued that the rich and famous come off as out of touch with reality among "normal" voters. And once again, Maher's criticism included taking a shot at the so-called "woke left" that he says celebrities only amplify.
Maher himself has been a high-profile celebrity for more than three decades, with a sizable net worth and multiple platforms where he regularly shares his own political opinions. In that sense, it could be argued that's he part of the thing he criticizes. Maher is a wealthy public figure using media exposure to influence political conversation.
Jerry O'Connell didn't seem all that thrown by Maher's reaction. But could the host's stance deter future celebrity guests from sitting down with him? Some left-leaning entertainers may think twice about appearing on his shows or podcast. That could, in turn, open the door to more conservative-leaning celebrities or guests who don't come from the entertainment industry at all.
Regardless, don't expect Maher to soften his position just to get a Hollywood star on his show or podcast. It's clear he's dug in on this take.