The comedian talks about his recent headline-making exchange with the 'Gone Girl' star who called his view 'racist,' saying, 'We are not bigoted people.'
- October 7, 2014
AceShowbiz -
Bill Maher has commented on his recent heated exchange with Ben Affleck about Islam. In the argument which aired on HBO's "Real Time with Bill Maher" on Friday, October 3, the "Gone Girl" star said Maher's view towards the religion was "gross, racist, disgusting."
"We're liberals! We're liberals," Maher said in an interview with Salon. "We're not crazy tea-baggers, y'know, and so it's kind of hard to be making this case - based on facts, based on polling, I think based on what everybody really knows... I mean, do the people arguing with us, would they really open a lesbian art gallery in Ramallah? [Laughs] Or Karachi? Or Cairo? I don't know if they would back up what they're saying with actions."
"We are not bigoted people. On the contrary, we're trying to stand up for the principles of liberalism! And so, y'know, I think we're just saying we need to identify illiberalism wherever we find it in the world, and not forgive it because it comes from [a group] people perceive as a minority," he continued.
Back on Friday, Affleck slammed Maher when he compared Islam to mafia and Sam Harris said it was "the motherload of bad ideas." The actor said, "[Your characterization] is gross. It's racist."
