Bill Maher Blames “Woke” Hollywood for Golden Globe Loss Amid Backlash Over Mocking ICE Protest Pins

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Before the 2026 Golden Globes, comedian Bill Maher said he didn’t think he’d win for Best Stand-Up Comedy, explaining that Hollywood often doesn’t recognize his work because of his views, according to RadarOnline.com.

I was listening to Bill Maher’s ‘Club Random’ podcast the other day, and he was chatting with Joel Edgerton. They recorded it before the Golden Globes, and Edgerton – who was up for Best Actor in a Drama for Train Dreams – seemed genuinely happy just to be nominated. He had a really refreshing attitude about it, honestly – not focused on winning, just grateful for the recognition.

“How do you feel? Let me ask you, how do you feel going in?” Edgerton asked.

Bill Maher explained that he doesn’t expect to win awards, saying just being nominated feels like a success. He jokingly pointed out he’s been nominated for 33 Emmys without ever winning, and that number is genuine, not just for effect.

Bill Maher believes his tendency to speak his mind is why he’s often overlooked or excluded. He explained, “It’s ridiculous, isn’t it? It’s happened with Politically Incorrect, Real Time, my stand-up shows, even when I’m producing, writing, or performing. It’s clearly something I’ve said. Actually, it’s everything I’ve said, because I’m very open with my opinions, and this overly sensitive environment really doesn’t like that.”

I have to admit, watching Maher discuss a potential win was pretty funny, especially knowing the odds were stacked against him. He playfully imagined the standard shocked reaction – you know, the ‘I can’t believe it!’ routine – and even suggested he should be shocked if he somehow pulled off a victory. It was a self-aware joke about how unexpected a win would be, and it got a good laugh from the audience.

Okay, so the Emmy for Outstanding Special went to Ricky Gervais’ Mortality – honestly, not a huge surprise. Bill Maher’s special, Is Anyone Else Seeing This?, was good, but Gervais was always the frontrunner, I figured. The presenter, Wanda Sykes, was hilarious, though! She definitely didn’t pull any punches, giving both Bill and Ricky a good-natured ribbing while announcing the winner.

She began her speech by thanking the Golden Globes and acknowledging that some people were upset a Black queer woman was taking the place of what they considered two average white men. She then said she wanted to show those people some appreciation.

I couldn’t help but notice when Sykes playfully turned to Maher and delivered that line – “You give us so much. But I would love a little less. Just try less.” The whole room just exploded with laughter! You could really see Maher take it to heart, though; he seemed a little uncomfortable and kept pursing his lips as everyone reacted.

The disagreement likely started because Maher had previously mentioned the protest pins, worn to honor Renee Goode – a woman who died during an encounter with ICE on January 7th – while speaking to reporters on the red carpet.

When a reporter asked Bill Maher about celebrities using award shows to raise awareness about issues, he downplayed the idea. He said, “Let’s be real, we’re here to entertain tonight. What happened was awful and shouldn’t have, but if those involved hadn’t acted so aggressively, it wouldn’t have escalated. I don’t feel the need to make a statement with a pin or anything.”

Even though he’s often overlooked during awards season, Bill Maher appears unbothered by it. “I’ve accepted that,” he stated, recognizing that expressing his opinions openly can have repercussions in the entertainment industry.

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2026-01-13 17:44