Bill Maher is facing criticism for remarks made during his "Real Time" monologue, which touched on the recent death of country music legend Dolly Parton.
Mahers's comments, which focused on Parton's physical appearance, were described by Variety as the "lamest Dolly Parton tribute yet." He suggested that attention on Parton's death had diverted focus from other news, including flooding in Nepal and the trade dispute between the United States and Canada.
Mahers referenced public tributes to Parton, including the Empire State Building being lit pink and the Sphere in Las Vegas adding a nipple graphic, joking that the latter was a reference to her well-known bust. Parton herself had previously acknowledged her augmented breasts, famously stating, "My boobs are fake, my hair’s fake, but what is real is my voice and my heart."
Parton's representatives confirmed her death following a brief battle with cancer. Her passing has prompted widespread tributes from across the entertainment industry and beyond. Former President Donald Trump also paid tribute to Parton on his Truth Social platform, calling her unique and irreplaceable.
Mahers's remarks quickly drew condemnation on social media. Rosie O'Donnell commented "heartless" on a post about the monologue. The Tennessee Holler, a progressive media outlet, shared screenshots of negative reviews of Maher's comments and posted on X, "What an absolute asshole."
One social media user noted that even Trump had offered a respectful tribute to Parton, questioning Maher's choice to make light of her death. Another user remarked that Maher seemed unfamiliar with the concept of uniting people through music and empathy, qualities for which Parton was celebrated.