July 18, 2025 #1 Local News, Information and Event Source for the Century City/Westwood areas.

Ice Cube to Appear on “Real Time with Bill Maher” Despite Maher’s Use of Racial Slur

Representatives for Ice Cube said Tuesday that the rapper and filmmaker will keep his scheduled appearance on Friday’s “Real Time with Bill Maher” in the first episode of the HBO program since Maher uttered a racial slur during a joke on last Friday’s show.

“Ice Cube will still appear on Bill Maher this Friday as scheduled to talk about the release of `Death Certificate: 25th Anniversary’ edition, an album that was recorded in the wake of the Rodney King beating in 1991, which sadly, speaks to many of the same race issues that we as a society are still dealing with today,” the statement said, according to Variety.

Sen. Al Franken of Minnesota, however, said Monday that he will not appear on Friday’s show as scheduled due to the offensiveness of Maher’s comment. Franken will be replaced by author and radio host Michael Eric Dyson, who like Ice Cube is African-America and has written and spoken at length about racial issues.

Other scheduled guests on Friday include journalist David Gregory, activist Symone Sanders and former Florida Rep. David Jolly.

Maher was interviewing Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse last Friday and joked that he should get to Nebraska more often, prompting Sasse to invite Maher to come “work in the fields with us.”

“Work in the fields? Senator, I’m a house n_____,” Maher said with a laugh, before assuring his audience that it was just a joke.

The comment sparked much outrage on Twitter, with some calling for Maher to be fired.

Maher apologized for using the slur the next day.

“Friday nights are always my worst night of sleep because I’m up reflecting on the things I should or shouldn’t have said on my live show,” Maher said in a statement released the day after his comment aired. “Last night was a particularly long night as I regret the word I used in the banter of a live moment. The word was offensive and I regret saying it and am very sorry.”

HBO officials also condemned the remark.

“Bill Maher’s comment last night was completely inexcusable and tasteless. We are removing his deeply offensive comment from any subsequent airing of the show,” the network said in a statement.

“Real Time” airs live at 7 p.m. from the CBS Studios in Los Angeles. HBO was criticized by some for not removing the slur before the show was rebroadcast at midnight.

This is not the first time Maher has been in hot water over remarks made on his TV shows. He was fired from his ABC show “Politically Incorrect” in 2002 after he said the 9/11 hijackers showed courage in crashing planes into buildings, which he contrasted with U.S. military personnel “lobbing cruise missiles from 2,000 miles away.”

More recently he’s been accused of Islamophobia for some of his views on the roots of Middle Eastern terrorism.

HBO previously announced that “Real Time” has already been renewed through 2018.

Related Posts

Man Arrested in Brentwood for Impersonating Firefighter During Palisades Fire

July 18, 2025

July 18, 2025

The suspect faces at least 28 criminal counts—including 23 felonies—spanning incidents from 2023 to May 2025 Federal and local law...

Study Highlights Economic Impact of Cap-and-Trade Extension in Los Angeles

July 18, 2025

July 18, 2025

Governor Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders are pushing to reauthorize the program this year, citing its role in generating 287,000...

Nearly $1B Secured for Refinancing of Westfield Century City Mall

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

The proceeds will replace a $925 million commercial mortgage-backed securities loan, originally issued by Morgan Stanley in 2023 and due...

West Coast Premiere of ‘The Opposite of Love’ Opens at Hudson Backstage Theatre

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

Produced by Neil Gooding Productions, behind shows like Back to the Future: The Musical, the play runs Thursdays through Saturdays...

Tesla Seen Nearly Crashing into West LA Home After Collision

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

Footage depicted a blue Prius on the road with significant front-end damage A crash involving injuries was reported around 12:30...

DUI Checkpoints to be Conducted Across LA This Weekend

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The LAPD selects checkpoint sites based on data indicating high incidents of impaired driving-related crashes and arrests The Los Angeles...

Mayor Bass Hails National Guard Withdrawal as Victory for Unity

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The Pentagon’s decision to reduce the troop presence follows weeks of legal challenges and public demonstrations Mayor Karen Bass celebrated...

(Video) Did You Know Emma Chamberlain’s Coffee Shop is in Century City?

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The outpost is a first for the popular influencer Did You Know Emma Chamberlain’s Coffee Shop is in Century City?...

Dodgers to Host Back to School Bash for Fire-Affected Families

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The free event will offer free groceries, school supplies, outfits, haircuts, medical screenings, and carnival rides The Los Angeles Dodgers...

Hundreds of Red-Legged Frog Tadpoles Released in Santa Monica Mountains

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

Once widespread in California, red-legged frogs vanished from the Santa Monica Mountains by the 1970s Nearly 600 California red-legged frog...

LA Sees Second Straight Year of Homelessness Decline, Leaders Celebrate Progress

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The survey, designed by the University of Southern California, reported a 17.5% drop—the largest two-year decrease on record The Los...

Westwood Village Board to Discuss Public Art Initiative

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

The initiative aims to enhance community pride, boost local business revenue, and address urban blight through public art corridors and...

Beverly Hills Plans Major Apartment Development Near Civic Center

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

The site, currently holding 13 residential units, is slated for demolition to make way for the new development A proposal...

Federal Judge Sides with Santa Monica, Other Local Governments Against Immigration Raids

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

Santa Monica Mayor Lana Negrete praised the ruling, saying it reaffirmed the city’s commitment to protecting residents from unjust detention...

California Hits Two-Thirds Clean Energy Milestone

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

This year, clean energy has powered the state for an average of seven hours daily, with over 90% of days...