Maher Defends Kimmel — Gets DUMPED Publicly

Bill Maher’s public defense of Jimmy Kimmel during his ABC suspension has backfired spectacularly, with the HBO host revealing that Kimmel now appears to have ended their friendship over political differences—exposing the left’s intolerance for anyone who dares critique both sides of the aisle.

Story Overview

Maher defended Kimmel during his five-day ABC suspension over politically charged comments about Charlie Kirk’s murder, calling it his “right to be wrong”
Kimmel returned with a monologue thanking supporters like Stephen Colbert and Seth Meyers but conspicuously omitted Maher from his gratitude list
On his Club Random podcast, Maher vented to Adam Carolla—Kimmel’s former Man Show co-host—about the perceived snub and deteriorating friendship
The rift highlights growing intolerance on the left for bipartisan commentary, with Maher noting Republicans still appear on his show despite disagreements

Maher’s Defense Met With Silent Treatment

Bill Maher stood up for Jimmy Kimmel when the ABC host faced suspension over comments politicizing the murder of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. Kimmel had blamed the “MAGA gang” for the actions of Kirk’s 22-year-old murderer, prompting FCC Chairman Brendan Carr to threaten ABC’s broadcast license. Despite disagreeing with Kimmel’s remarks, Maher publicly defended his colleague on Real Time, arguing it was Kimmel’s right to express his opinion. The suspension lasted five days, during which major station groups Sinclair and Nexstar dropped Kimmel’s show from their affiliates.

When Kimmel returned to the air, he delivered a monologue thanking various supporters who had stood by him during the controversy. The list included fellow late-night hosts Stephen Colbert and Seth Meyers, and surprisingly even conservative pundits Candace Owens and Ben Shapiro. Conspicuously absent from Kimmel’s thank-you list was Bill Maher, the one person who had most vocally defended his right to make the controversial comments. The omission didn’t go unnoticed by Maher, who interpreted it as a clear signal that their friendship had become collateral damage in America’s deepening political divide.

Venting to a Mutual Friend

Maher addressed the situation directly on his Club Random podcast, speaking with Adam Carolla—who co-hosted The Man Show with Kimmel years ago. Maher explained his frustration at being excluded from Kimmel’s gratitude, stating bluntly that he believes Kimmel now dislikes him because of their political differences. Maher has built his career on critiquing both political parties, a stance that increasingly puts him at odds with left-leaning entertainment figures who demand ideological conformity. He told Carolla he doesn’t think he did anything wrong by defending free speech while maintaining his own perspective.

The HBO host elaborated on what he sees as a fundamental difference between how conservatives and liberals handle disagreement. Maher noted that Republicans continue appearing on his show despite his criticisms of their positions, demonstrating a willingness to engage across political lines. In contrast, he suggested that left-leaning hosts like Kimmel, Colbert, and Meyers have become interchangeable in their monologues, prioritizing tribal loyalty over intellectual diversity. Carolla agreed with Maher’s assessment, reinforcing the perception that the left has become less tolerant of dissenting voices, even from those who generally share their worldview but refuse to toe every line.

Trump Administration Pressure Raises Stakes

The backdrop to this personal feud involves serious government intervention in broadcast media under President Trump’s administration. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr’s threat to revoke ABC’s broadcast license over Kimmel’s comments represents an escalation beyond previous political controversies involving comedy hosts. Trump himself has suggested similar license revocations for NBC over programming featuring Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers. This represents a sharp contrast to the 2001 controversy when Maher’s Politically Incorrect faced advertiser boycotts and White House criticism for post-9/11 comments, but no regulatory threats materialized.

The economic and professional consequences have been substantial. Stephen Colbert’s Late Show has been canceled entirely, marking a significant shift in the late-night television landscape. ABC faced immediate affiliate defections when Sinclair and Nexstar dropped Kimmel’s programming, threatening advertising revenue streams. These developments suggest networks will exercise greater caution regarding politically charged content, potentially chilling the satirical commentary that has defined late-night television for decades. The irony isn’t lost on observers: an administration promising to end censorship is wielding regulatory power to punish critical voices, while someone like Maher who defends free speech principles gets ostracized by his supposed allies for not being partisan enough.