Megyn Kelly has criticized late-night television host Bill Maher, labeling him a ‘hypocrite’ following his condemnation of Democrats for not addressing antisemitism within their ranks.
Kelly, at 55, targeted Maher after his comments on a recent episode of Real Time, where he spoke in anticipation of Israel’s 78th anniversary.
During his “New Rules” segment, Maher, 70, humorously proposed that failing to wish Israel a ‘happy birthday’ should be regarded as antisemitic, as a strategy to address prejudice among liberals.
Maher remarked, “Jew hatred isn’t just acceptable now, it’s cool. And Democrats? Where are you? If any other minority group was being talked about like this, you’d be quick to act with symbolic gestures and numerous benefit concerts.”
He further criticized, “You don’t tell your woke followers that Israel isn’t a colonizer, an apartheid state, or committing genocide. If those individuals spent even a week in any other Middle Eastern country besides Israel, they’d realize what liberalism is not.”
Kelly, a conservative podcast host, responded to Maher’s comments on X, stating, “He’s such a hypocrite. An ‘anti-woke warrior’ except when it involves the identity he shares, then he goes full BLM 2020.”
Maher’s background includes his Jewish mother and a Catholic education, but he has said he does not identify as Jewish.
Kelly has previously defended Israel following the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, but has since slammed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the campaign against Palestinians in Gaza, Mediaite reported.
Late-night host Bill Maher gave an eight-minute long lecture on his Friday night show, Real Time With Bill Maher, pointing out the ‘hypocrisy’ of the anti-Israel movement that he claimed is simply just ‘antisemitism’
Right-wing journalist and podcaster Megyn Kelly jumped on social media to take a stab at Maher, who she dubbed a ‘hypocrite,’ for his pro-Israel segment
Maher addressed the controversy over Gaza in his speech on Friday.
‘If you think, as so many do now, that when it comes to human rights, Israel is the monster country of all time, you either don’t read, or you don’t care about your own hypocrisy. Because there are so many worse places. But that’s where we are these days: No Jews, no news,’ he said.
Maher then noted human rights crises across the world, including in China, Russia, Sudan, Iran, Haiti and North Korea, which he said are ‘all way worse.’
He added that while it is ‘everyone’s right in a free country to be antisemitic,’ they should stop ‘hiding behind Israel, or Zionism or Netanyahu.’
Maher wrapped up his speech defending his decision to attack the Democrats.
He said: ‘Let me just say this to all who ask me, “Why are you harder on the Democrats than you used to be?” Until you fix this whole issue, stop asking me.’
Kelly’s response to Maher sparked backlash with many pointing out that she appeared to have dialed back her previous support for Israel.
‘The pro-Israel side IS the anti-woke side, Megyn. You’re just too blinded by your love of clicks to see that,’ one person wrote.
Maher told viewers that ‘Jew hatred isn’t just acceptable now, it’s cool’ as he slammed the Democrats for failing to tackle antisemitism in their base
‘I still love you Megyn but this is an erroneous argument – it is anti-woke to defend the Jews bc woke people are generally anti-Semitic right?’ another added.
‘Calling Maher a hypocrite here is pure projection. He has defended Israel and criticized anti-Semitism with the same arguments for decades. His position has not moved an inch. You, on the other hand, have reinvented your commentary on Islam, Israel, and LGBT issues multiple times depending on which network was signing your paycheck,’ a third person wrote.
However, some sided with Kelly’s analysis and suggested that US tax payer money should not be sent overseas to Israel.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Kelly and Maher for comment.
