Bill Maher says actor Ben Affleck is still turning down invitations to appear on his talk show, more than a decade after a tense on-air debate about Islam back in 2014.
During that original exchange, Affleck and another guest strongly disagreed over comments made about the religion, with Affleck pushing back firmly, calling parts of the conversation unfair and offensive.
Speaking on his podcast, Maher explained that the tension from that debate is likely the reason Affleck has avoided returning to the show ever since.
“That’s why he hasn’t done the show since,” he told comedian Max Amini on the latest episode of his podcast, Club Random.
Maher said he still respects Affleck personally, even though they see the issue differently. “I love him, but we just are gonna disagree on that one,” he remarked.
“Maybe if I talked to him privately or it’s been, you know, 12 years, maybe. I think there’s a middle ground,” Maher reflected at another point.
He shared that he still invites Affleck back each year, joking that despite their disagreement, he ended up purchasing his current home from the actor years ago.
Maher also reflected on why that particular episode, where author Sam Harris criticised Islam as the “motherload of bad ideas,” has remained so memorable.
“For some reason, it got emotional and that’s what people love,” he remarked. “More people mention that episode to me than anything. And it wasn’t the best episode we ever had, but it got emotional with a movie star. That’s America.”
During the original conversation, Affleck, Maher and Harris argued whether large numbers of the Muslim population share the beliefs of jihadists.
Affleck strongly disagreed, calling the conversation “gross” and “racist” and emphasising that most people within the faith simply want peaceful, ordinary lives.
What really happened in the 2014 debate:
The conversation sparked with Harris, who was promoting his book Waking Up, saying liberals are quick to criticise white religious extremism and Christianity, but often ignore or downplay similar issues when it comes to other religions.
He explained that people often confuse criticism of a religion’s ideas with hatred toward the people who follow it. He said he believes this idea, often called “Islamophobia,” is used unfairly to shut down honest discussion.
Affleck pushed back, questioning whether Harris was truly knowledgeable enough to speak on the topic, to which Harris said, “I’m actually well educated on this subject.”
Affleck then asked if Harris was denying that Islamophobia exists at all. “You’re saying that Islamaphobia is not a real thing?” Affleck said.
Harris clarified that he does think some people are unfairly prejudiced against Muslims, and that this is a real problem.
When Maher asked Affleck why he was being so “hostile” about the topic, Affleck replied,”It’s gross, it’s racist.”
At one point, Harris also said, “Islam is the motherload of bad ideas,” which left Affleck clearly offended as he leaned back in his seat, saying, “Jesus.”
The discussion grew more heated, with Affleck arguing that most Muslims are peaceful people who simply want normal lives, like going to school and living safely, and that generalising an entire group of people wasn’t fair.
“Or how about the more than a billion people who aren’t fanatical, who don’t punish women, who just want to go to school, have some sandwiches… and don’t do any of the things…stereotyping!”
