Comedian Bill Maher used the first night of Rosh Hashanah on HBO’s Real Time to denounce what he called moral confusion surrounding the Gaza conflict. Maher singled out Democratic politicians and a handful of high‑profile entertainers, asserting that their repeated claims of genocide are inflaming a surge in antisemitism.
Maher’s critique of Democratic rhetoric
Maher began by targeting members of the Democratic Party who have publicly condemned Israel’s actions in the Israel‑Hamas war. “Because nowhere has this moral confusion become more obvious than in a place called Gaza,” he said, adding that the strip of land was not part of the original Israel but was won in a war and later offered back as a peace gesture.
Macklemore’s stadium platform
The focus then shifted to rapper Macklemore, whose legal name is Benjamin Hammond Haggerty. Earlier this month, Macklemore performed as the opening act for Ed Sheeran at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, where he repeatedly shouted “Free Palestine” while wearing a keffiyeh. Maher mocked the performance, saying, “I think Macklemore spoke for all clueless celebrities when he said, ‘I know enough to know this is a genocide.’ Actually, you don’t know s—. It’s not a genocide. It’s a counter‑attack in a war.”
Celebrity risk and public reaction
Jason Mudd, CEO of Axia Public Relations, told Fox News Digital that Macklemore’s stance represents a “calculated risk.” He explained that taking a political position can alienate roughly half of a celebrity’s audience, while a third may support the stance, a third may prefer the entertainer stay out of politics, and the remainder remain indifferent. “If Macklemore were my client, I’d advise him that calling a war a genocide invites the public shredding Bill Maher just delivered,” Mudd said.
Linking false claims to rising antisemitism
Maher argued that the spread of the genocide label gives people “full permission to hate” Jews. He warned that history shows antisemitic sentiment does not require extensive justification when false accusations are widely repeated. “If you really think someone is committing genocide, of course you have full permission to hate them,” Maher said, linking the rhetoric to a global increase in antisemitic incidents.
Context and response
The comments come amid ongoing debate over the Israel‑Hamas conflict, which began with Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel. While many U.S. officials continue to support Israel’s right to self‑defense, a vocal segment of the public and several Democratic lawmakers have described Israel’s response as disproportionate or even genocidal. Maher’s remarks reflect a broader pushback from conservative commentators who view such language as dangerous and misleading.
Fox News Digital reached out to Macklemore’s representatives for comment, but no response was received at the time of publication.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
