Comedian Bill Maher doubled down on his criticism of rapper Macklemore on Friday, reviving a 12-year-old costume controversy and suggesting that "everyone is just really so stupid."
asserted
everyone → double → controversy
During Friday’s episode of HBO’s "Real Time," Maher continued his criticism of Macklemore, 43, after the "Thrift Shop" singer was dropped from Ed Sheeran’s "Loop Tour" following a string of anti-Israel remarks.
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singer → continue → remarks
"Everyone’s paying more.
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Everyone → pay → more
Macklemore had to pay an arm and a leg for a giant fake prosthetic ‘Jew’ nose," Maher said, referring to an onstage costume worn by Macklemore in 2014 in which he wore a dark wig, beard and fake nose.
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he → have → wig
Shortly after the incident, Macklemore issued an apology on his website, saying, "Family, friends and fans alike who know me well, know that I'm absolutely not the person described in certain headlines today.
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I → issue → headlines
There is no worse feeling than being misunderstood, especially when people are hurt or offended."
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people → be → ?
Maher continued discussing the controversy, pointing to Macklemore’s previous comments about the Israel-Hamas war.
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Maher → continue → war
"Apparently, [Ed Sheeran] is old buddies with Macklemore from 15 years ago, back when Macklemore had his one hit," he continued.
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he → have → hit
"So, Ed Sheeran let Macklemore be his opening act on his tour.
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Macklemore → let → tour
And when I say, ‘act,’ he goes out there and repeats lies about how Gaza is a genocide."
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Gaza → say → lies
He added, "Not that they care, but that’s a lie."
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that → add → ?
"Everyone is just really so stupid," he added.
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he → add → ?
"Listen to this, AOC was asked yesterday would she change the channel on the radio if Ed Sheeran came on.
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Sheeran → listen → radio
And she said, ‘Yes.
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she → say → ?
You know, AOC?
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You → know → ?
I’ve always changed the channel when [Ed Sheeran comes on]."
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Sheeran → change → channel
The "Real Time" host then pivoted to the dispute between Macklemore and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft.
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host → pivot → Macklemore
Macklemore said in an Instagram post that Sheeran told him Kraft would not allow the rapper to perform at Gillette Stadium, which the Kraft Group owns.
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Group → say → which
"Ok, so Robert Kraft, who is a rich guy owns the Patriots, owns the stadium where this concert was about to take place, he was understandably offended by this and said, ‘You can’t play my stadium,’" Maher said.
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Maher → own → stadium
"So, now Macklemore’s fans hate Ed Sheeran.
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fans → hate → Sheeran
Ed Sheeran’s own band won’t play with him.
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band → play → him
And Ed Sheeran needs a new opening act."
Later in the show, Maher returned to his criticism of musicians using concerts to promote political causes.
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musicians → need → causes
"But I think just any kind of echo of that old cancel culture from the past is going to be a loser in today's environment," Maher said.
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Maher → think → environment
"Is anyone looking for any of this at a concert?
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anyone → look → concert
I mean, do I really need a lecture on politics of any stripe right when the molly is kicking in?
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molly → mean → stripe
The comments come on the heels of the highly publicized Sheeran-Macklemore story, in which Macklemore told the crowd at a New Jersey show that, "A big part of the reason why I wanted to do this tour in the first place is so that I could stand up in stadiums like this and say two words that are very, very dear to my heart: Free Palestine."
uncertain
that → come → heart
After being dropped from the tour, Macklemore donated $1 million dollars to Palestinian aid efforts — prompting Kraft to make a $2 million donation to Gaza after the rapper called on him to match the amount.
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rapper → drop → amount
Maher’s comments drew criticism from political commentator Kaivan Shroff, who told Fox News Digital the comedian’s approach of blasting musicians for sharing their political opinions has an underlying tone of hypocrisy.
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approach → draw → hypocrisy
WATCH: Why Macklemore Got Kicked Off Ed Sheeran’s Tour
"
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Macklemore → watch → Tour
Maher’s whole premise falls apart the minute he starts mocking celebrities for having political opinions.
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he → fall → opinions
He can think Macklemore is wrong, AOC is ridiculous or Ed Sheeran is overrated.
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Sheeran → think → ?
But pretending the problem is that entertainers are weighing in on politics is absurd when that has been his own business model for decades," Shroff said.
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Shroff → pretend → decades
The former Hillary Clinton campaign staffer then pointed to Maher’s rehashing of Macklemore’s 2014 costume incident.
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staffer → point → incident
"The Macklemore costume is relevant, especially given the subject matter.
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costume → give → matter
But Maher takes that legitimate point and buries it under a bunch of cultural sniping," Shroff told Fox News Digital.
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Shroff → take → Digital
"AOC said she would change the station because of Sheeran’s involvement in the controversy, Maher jokes that he changes it because he dislikes Sheeran’s music.
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he → say → music
That may get a laugh, but it does not actually respond to her position in any meaningful way.
uncertain
it → get → way
The same is true of calling Macklemore a one-hit wonder.
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same → call → Macklemore
None of that tells us whether the underlying argument is right or wrong."
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argument → tell → us
As the fallout continues, Axia Public Relations CEO Jason Mudd said Sheeran should make a decision and stick to it.
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Sheeran → continue → it
…and 8 more, not listed.
The Aporia
