Bill Maher, the host of "Real Time," concluded his recent show with a scathing critique of fellow comedian Hasan Minhaj, who has been accused of fabricating stories about racism he purportedly experienced.
Minhaj, a former correspondent for "The Daily Show," recently found himself at the center of a controversial profile published by The New Yorker. In the piece, he was compelled to confess that the instances of prejudice he claimed to have encountered as a Muslim American and a person of color in his stand-up comedy were, in fact, fictitious.
Maher began his monologue by addressing the growing trend in America of accepting something as true simply because one wishes it to be so. "This dangerous idea that has taken root in America that something is true merely because you want to believe it's true has got to go," Maher stated. He went on to draw a parallel between conspiracy theories, often associated with the right, and the concept of 'emotional truth,' which he linked to the left.
Maher then turned his attention to Minhaj, comparing him to Jussie Smollett, an actor who was accused of staging a hate crime. He acknowledged the undeniable history of racial prejudice and discrimination in America, particularly against Muslims and people of color. However, he questioned the current state of affairs, suggesting that the situation might not be as dire as the left portrays it, nor as rosy as the right claims.
Maher then highlighted some of Minhaj's fabricated stories, ranging from his prom date's parents' alleged racism to claims of being pursued by the FBI as a suspected terrorist. He emphasized the importance of truth in speaking truth to power, a principle he felt Minhaj had violated.
The "Real Time" host also addressed a personal grievance with Minhaj, who had previously accused Maher of advocating for the internment of Muslims. Maher vehemently denied this claim, stating he had "never come close to thinking let alone saying" such a thing.
Maher continued his critique by suggesting that Minhaj and his generation have a tendency to construct their identities around victimhood. He accused them of inventing instances of racism where none exist, a practice he argued does not contribute to the fight against genuine racism.
Maher also took issue with Minhaj's claim that his everyday life was not sufficiently "interesting or compelling" for his act. He questioned whether this was not, in fact, a positive thing.
In a final jab, Maher suggested that Minhaj felt "cheated by progress," as it had deprived him of stories of oppression. He pointed out that Minhaj, a Muslim married to a Hindu, would face far greater challenges in a country like India.
Maher concluded his critique by suggesting that any dislike Minhaj might encounter would likely be due to his dishonesty rather than his ethnicity. "If people don't like you now, it's probably not because you're a person of color. It's because you're shady," he stated.
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