IIf you happen to be a white celebrity who has been “canceled” – or blamed for something racist on the job –Realtime with Bill Maher is the perfect place to start your “White Victimhood” tour. And, following in the venerable footsteps of the alt-right bigot Milo Yiannopoulos and Blackface apologist Megyn Kelly, Maher has chosen to use his influential platform to cry “cancel culture!In defense of another wealthy racist: Sharon Osbourne.
In case you missed it, after Osbourne gave a full air defense of Piers Morgan’s insensitive comments about Meghan Markle on her daytime talk show The conversation, she faced two of her Black co-hosts – Sheryl Underwood and Elaine Welteroth. When Underwood got emotional while discussing the racist treatment Markle had dealt with, Osbourne scolded her, saying, “And try not to cry, because if someone should be crying, they should be. me
Reports then surfaced of Osbourne’s “long history of racist language and bullying,” with journalist Yashar Ali revealing that Osbourne had called former co-host Julie Chen “wonton” and “slanty eyes”; referred to co-host and executive producer Sara Gilbert, who is a lesbian, as “pussy licker” and “fish ater”; and described Iranian-American agent Renee Tab as a “Persian carpet pussy,” and also falsely accused her of stealing jewelry. Holly Robinson Peete, a black woman, also shared a scathing story about Osbourne, tweeting, “I’m old enough to remember Sharon complaining that I was too ‘ghetto’ for # theTalk… and then I was gone. I bring this up now as I was shocked watching the disrespectful, condescending tone she took with her co-host who remained calm and respectful because … she HAD to. “
Osbourne was fired The conversation and, instead of being accountable, she claimed she was “tricked” and the victim of some unnamed conspiracy against her.
Which brings us to Friday Real timeMaher first attempted to summarize why, in his mind, Osbourne was fired, and twisted the situation by insinuating that she was fired only for her comments defending Morgan on the program, with the comic asking, ‘Who is the racist? ? And why? This is what I’m trying to find out. “” Me too, “replied Osbourne.” I’ve been mentioned so many things in my life, and I’m so used to being lashed out, but ‘a racist’ is one I won’t take. “
“Do you have to agree with everything Meghan Markle says, or are you a racist?” Maher asked. “Is this the standard now? Is this what you think they are trying to say? Are you a racist unless you agree with every person of color? That seems insane. “
It’s worth mentioning here that Osbourne probably wasn’t fired The conversation about her Markle comments, as Maher unfairly rephrases it, but about the numerous reports delivered in their wake by credible sources – including guest host Robinson Peete and former co-host Leah Remini – detailing her history of unquestionably racist and discriminatory comments.
Maher then downplayed the British Royal Family’s alleged treatment of Markle, calling Queen Elizabeth II “an old bag” and telling Markle, “They’re cold to everyone, girl!” (Yes, he really said that – with a slight accent, no less.)
“All this drama about someone saying, ‘I don’t agree with my friend, but he’s entitled to his opinion,’” said Maher, again misleading.
“If you disagree with someone, you are not yet a racist,” Osbourne replied.
Later in the chat, Maher – without mentioning them – raised the allegations in the Ali report that Osbourne had spoken out anti-Asian libel, Remini and the other women who came out with stories of Osbourne ‘snitches’.
‘I don’t even use those words. They’re not in my… vocabulary, ”Osbourne said, adding,“ They are disgruntled ladies. ‘
Maher then argued that people as old as Osbourne or himself should not have to apologize for their behavior.
‘I’m 65. I know who I am. I don’t need re-education, ”said Maher.
I think a lot of people will disagree.