Hollywood actor Ben Affleck continues to reject invitations to return to television host Bill Maher's talk show Real Time following their infamous 2014 debate on Islam.
Speaking on the latest episode of his podcast Club Random, Maher, 70, revealed that the 54-year-old Oscar winner has turned down every annual invitation to appear as a guest since their heated exchange twelve years ago.
"That's why he hasn't done the show since," Maher told comedian Max Amini during the interview. "I love him, but we just are gonna disagree on that one."
During the confrontation on Real Time with Bill Maher in 2014, Maher and author Sam Harris collided with Affleck over whether large numbers of Muslims share the beliefs of violent jihadists. The exchange escalated when Maher compared the religion of Islam to the Mafia.
Despite the passage of more than a decade, Maher confirmed that he still attempts to book the actor on his program each year. "I ask him every year," Maher said, noting their personal connection: "I bought this house from him."
Maher suggested there could eventually be room for reconciliation between the two public figures. "I don't know," Maher continued. "Maybe if I talked to him privately or it's been, you know, 12 years, maybe. I think there's a middle ground."
Persisting disagreement over televised debate
Maher also revealed he believes Affleck later spoke directly with Sam Harris following their televised clash. Harris had appalled Affleck during the broadcast by describing the Muslim faith as the "motherload of bad ideas."
"I think he even communicated with Sam Harris after that," Maher said on the podcast. "It got exaggerated and it got... for some reason, it got emotional and that's what people love."
Reflecting on the enduring legacy of the episode, Maher acknowledged that the conflict remains one of the most talked-about moments of his television career. "More people mention that episode to me than anything," Maher recalled. "And it wasn't the best episode we ever had, but it got emotional with a movie star. That's America."
A representative for Affleck has been reached out to by the Daily Mail for comment regarding Maher's statements.
Details of the 2014 broadcast confrontation
The clash began when Harris, who appeared on the show while promoting his book Waking Up, argued that liberals fail to address religious theocracy in the Muslim world. "Liberals have failed on the topic of theocracy," Harris said during the 2014 broadcast. "They'll criticize white theocracy, they'll criticize Christians. They still get agitated over the abortion clinic bombing that happened in 1984."
Harris further stated: "The crucial point of confusion is that we have been sold this meme of Islamaphobia, where every criticism of the doctrine of Islam gets conflated with bigotry toward Muslims as people. Which is intellectually ridiculous."
Affleck challenged Harris's expertise on the subject, asking: "Are you the person who understands the officially codified doctrine of Islam?" When Harris asserted that he was "well educated on this subject," Affleck asked: "You're saying that Islamaphobia is not a real thing?"
Harris responded: "I'm not denying that certain people are bigoted against Muslims as people, and that's a problem."
When Maher questioned why Affleck was being so "hostile" during the discussion, Affleck condemned the arguments being made, saying: "It's gross, it's racist."
The argument reached a peak when Harris described Islam as the "motherload of bad ideas," prompting Affleck to lean back into his chair and exclaim: "Jesus."
Affleck forcefully pushed back against generalizations about Muslim populations during the broadcast. "Or how about the more than a billion people who aren't fanatical, who don't punish women, who just want to go to school, have some sandwiches... and don't do any of the things...stereotyping!" Affleck said.
Affleck currently appears to have no interest in returning to Real Time.
