Bill Maher is saying “cancel culture” is still thriving during a conversation Friday with David Sedaris on Real Time with Bill Maher.
The HBO host and comedian says the idea of “cancel culture” has evolved into something else and the Karla Sofía Gascón scandal played a part in Emilia Pérez losing at the Oscars, which was “good news for Anora.”
“There are people who say cancel culture isn’t a real thing and I would say to them, ‘It just happened at the Oscars,’” Maher said on his talk show. “You may not think it happened but the movie that was going to win it all was Emilia Pérez.”
Maher said that “Hollywood loved” the idea that they would “finally have a person, who was a trans person” win the Best Actress category and make history.
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Maher noted that he read Gascón’s tweets and likened them to something “a little child” would write, adding, “It was a little Kanye-esque, just whatever’s on the brain comes out.”
“Just don’t mention Hitler. I feel like it never comes out good,” Maher said of Gascón’s tweets. “And then some things she said, which are just, ‘Oh yeah. You know what? I’ve said things like that.’ It’s just very, very honest. But of course, the woke community — it was way too far.”
Maher continued, “And this movie, that was going to win it all, it was the front-runner, and she was going to get all… suddenly was out to lunch. And good news for Anora. That’s what happened. So yes, cancel culture is still with us. It may just be a little more subtle.”
Gascón attended the Oscars, despite skipping most award shows following the fallout of resurfaced social media posts where she made offensive remarks about Muslims and the Black Lives Matter movement.
Following public outcry, Gascón issued an apology for her tweets, stating: “I want to acknowledge the conversation around my past social media posts that have caused hurt. As someone in a marginalized community, I know this suffering all too well and I am deeply sorry to those I have caused pain. All my life I have fought for a better world. I believe light will always triumph over darkness.”
Anora won the night’s top awards including for Best Picture, Directing, Original Screenplay and Film Editing. Mikey Madison took the Oscar for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her work in Anora, the category in which Gascón was competing. Emilia Pérez, which came in with a leading 13 Oscar noms, did get some love with Zoe Saldaña taking the trophy for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.
