With tensions in the Middle East running high and an Israeli invasion of Gaza underway, comedian Bill Maher has taken to Twitter to share his views on the difficult situation.
Maher tweeted Thursday night, July 17, that dealing with Hamas is like trying to deal with a crazy woman, whose wrists you can only hold for so long before having to slap her:
Dealing w/ Hamas is like dealing w/ a crazy woman who’s trying to kill u – u can only hold her wrists so long before you have to slap her
— Bill Maher (@billmaher) July 18, 2014
Despite being retweeted over 2,000 times and favorited more than 1,400 times, many replied to his tweet with angry messages, condemning him of making light of domestic violence.
.@billmaher I like how you combined encouragement for genocide with an affirmation of domestic assault in that joke. Very creative.
— Time Travel Brand (@timetravelbrand) July 18, 2014
@RabbiReport – His misogyny is past the point of commentary or irony, it’s just insulting. Seth McFarlane also annoys me in that way.
— KarinaR (@karina_yyz) July 18, 2014
@hystericalblkns @billmaher /I agree: his awful analogy endorses violence against women.
— Deborah Carroll (@cantata21) July 18, 2014
@billmaher what is your problem, man? That is terrible on several levels. Good tweet to delete with accompanying apology.
— Harold Pollack (@haroldpollack) July 18, 2014
@billmaher ugggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. come on, seriously? I’m always one to defend a joke, but this is just, nope.
— Jennifer Smith (@NerdiferSmith) July 18, 2014
Others took offense in his proposed resolution to the conflict, with one user sarcastically writing:
@billmaher bravo for making such a smart joke bill. thx, you don’t consider those kids dying out there as humans.
— SUNRISE (@sonaa2014) July 18, 2014
Over on Jezebel, Rebecca Rose wrote that “Maher is completely entitled to his opinion about the situation in that region,” but added: “If you want to be taken seriously as a political pundit, how can you be so dismissive in the language you use when referring to women or other marginalized groups?”
This was Maher’s second tweet about the topic in 24 hours. Earlier in the day, the HBO host wrote:
One thing you never hear in the middle east: I just can’t stay mad at you
— Bill Maher (@billmaher) July 17, 2014
The Huffington Post has reached out to Maher’s reps for comment and will update this story once one comes through.
Summer’s in full swing and the weather’s nice, so how about ditching your gas-guzzlin’ ride for something human-powered? If you do, Google’s latest update to Maps on mobile wants to help make biking a little easier. New features for two-wheeled…
