In a new episode of his show 'Real Time with Bill Maher', the HBO presenter downplays the condition that causes hair loss as saying, 'It's not leukaemia, OK?'
- Apr 4, 2022
AceShowbiz - Bill Maher has come under fire after giving his take on Jada Pinkett Smith's alopecia struggle in the wake of Will Smith Oscars slap. Not sympathizing with the actress, the political commentator downplayed the condition that causes hair loss.
"I mean, alopecia, it's not leukaemia, OK?" Bill said in a new episode of his show "Real Time with Bill Maher" airing on Friday, April 1. "Alopecia is when your hair falls out - there are worst things," he added.
Later in the episode, he returned to the subject. "If you are so lucky in life as to have that be your medical problem, just say 'Thank God,' " he said to his guests, New York City mayoral candidate Andrew Yang and attorney Laura Coates.
"It's not life-threatening. It's part of - for most people, 80% of men, 50% of women - it's part of aging. Aging is, trust me I know, it's the degradation of the flesh. It happens to all of us," the 66-year-old went on arguing, before offering some unsolicited advice to Jada, "And you know, just put on a f**king wig like everybody else at the Oscars if it bothers you so much."
Elsewhere in his commentary, Bill claimed Will's behavior at the 2022 Oscars exposed ugly "aspects of society" such as "toxic masculinity, victim culture, and liberal hypocrisy." He also blamed "toxic femininity" for the incident.
Andrew insinuated that Will overreacted to Chris Rock's joke. "I do feel like it's part of the job of a world-famous celebrity attending an award show to absorb mild insults directed at you and yours," he said. "I ran for office and people said things around me I didn't like and I didn't get up and smack anyone."
After the episode aired, many expressed their outrage over Bill's "hateful" comments on Jada. "If you've had alopecia (which I did), you know it can be very painful, both physically and emotionally. I wish Mr Maher & others downplaying it would be a little more understanding," one person reminded him.
Another tried to educate him on alopecia, "@billmaher Do you know someone with #alopecia? It's an auto immune disease with serious physical and psychological impact. To say it's an insignificant affliction; that you could live with it if that's what was wrong with you vs leukemia. Seriously insensitive and ignorant."
A third slammed the HBO host, "He's getting worse by the day," while a fourth person called him out as writing, "Bill maher showing once again that he is a racist and an overall scumbag." Someone else threatened to "punch" Bill, tweeting, "@billmaher see next time you put a lady down put a whig I am in UK I will find away to come to USA not to slap you i will punch how dare put someone down take a look in mirror."
On Sunday, March 27, Will slapped Chris for joking about Jada's shaved head, apparently not knowing about her struggle with alopecia. The Best Actor winner later issued a public apology to the comedian and resigned from the Academy.
