Bill Maher revealed on Monday that his long-standing relationship with late-night host Jimmy Kimmel has hit a breaking point. During an episode of his "Club Random" podcast, Maher admitted that Kimmel is "very mad" at him. The tension stems from Maher’s public criticism of Kimmel’s wife, Molly McNearney, regarding her political ultimatums toward conservative family members.
The rift began in November 2025 after McNearney disclosed that she had cut ties with relatives who supported President Donald Trump. She revealed she had sent an email to family members with "ten reasons" not to vote for Trump and severed relationships when they refused to "obey." Maher blasted the move on "Real Time," arguing that such ultimatums only make people "rethink you," not their politics.
"This is the difference between the right and the left. It bugs me so much," Maher told guest Adam Carolla. "My tribe is supposed to be the left, but these are the people who just can't talk to you unless you're exactly there." Maher lamented that the "purity test culture" on the left is creating a deep schism that may prevent the two comedians from ever speaking again.
Maher noted that he attempted a "mea culpa" in an email exchange with Kimmel, though he stood by his original criticism. He argued that the current crop of late-night hosts has become "ideologically captured" and predictable. "You could all exchange your monologues, all of you, and no one would know the difference in tone," Maher quipped.
The "Real Time" host also referenced his history with Kimmel and ABC, noting that both were eventually fired by the same Disney executive. Maher was famously ousted from "Politically Incorrect" in 2002, while Kimmel faced a brief suspension in September 2025 over remarks about a shooting. Despite these shared connections, Maher said he is tired of buying into "left-wing bull----" just to maintain friendships.
Carolla, a close friend of both men, listened as Maher expressed his regret over the situation. Maher insisted he was as "kid-gloved" as possible when addressing McNearney’s comments but refused to apologize for disagreeing. "If that's not good enough for you, then I think you're the a------," Maher added. "And I don't think Jimmy is an a------. I think he's a great guy."