On the Real Time talk show, host Bill Maher’s opening monologue centered around the highlighted topic of the Oscars — the Smith family — specifically disrespecting Pinkett-Smith’s condition and voicing his disapproval of Will Smith slapping Chris Rock.
Maher began by joking that the slap going viral contradicts the actor’s saying, “keep my wife’s name out of your f***ing mouth,” since it’s what everyone is talking about. Then the host conveys that Rock’s joke about Pinkett-Smith’s condition was not that serious enough to justify the actor’s decision to slap the comedian.
“Who would have guessed that the movie that comes out of the Oscars with all the buzz was “G.I Jane,” Maher jokes. “Also, I must say, comparing a woman to Demi Moore looking her hottest is not exactly the worst insult I’ve ever heard in the world.”
Next, Maher goes for Pinkett-Smith by minimizing her alopecia condition.
“I mean, alopecia, it’s no leukemia, okay,” Maher said, followed by laughter from the audience. “Alopecia is when your hair falls out. Appalachia, when your teeth fall out. There are worst things.”
Maher admits to siding with Smith and thinking Rock’s joke was wrong before knowing what alopecia is. After researching the illness, he continued minimizing and disrespecting it.
“If you are so lucky in life as to have that be your medical problem, just say ‘Thank God,’ Maher said, to which people applauded. He said it’s “not life-threatening” and told Pinkett-Smith to “just put on a f***ing wig like everybody else at the Oscars if it bothers you so much.”
Unfortunately, Maher’s disrespect doesn’t stop at her condition. He then jokes about the situation with musician August Alsina by asking if he’s supposed to “feel bad for Will Smith defending the honor of the woman who was f***ing August Alsina.”
Lastly, Maher blames the slap on toxic femininity, claiming that the camera shows him laughing at the joke and that it wasn’t until Pinkett-Smith gave him the “stink eye” causing the actor approached Rock and slapped him.
According to a BET report, Maher was on Smith’s side and thought the Oscars host’s joke about Pinkett-Smith was wrong. It wasn’t until he googled the term “alopecia” which is when he changed his position on the matter.
In 2018, the Girl’s Trip actress announced her hair loss issue during a Red Table Talk discussion, which she has learned to accept.
Watch the monologue below:
