Why Bill Maher & Jimmy Kimmel 'May Never Talk Again' After Decades-Long Friendship

The relationship between Bill Maher and Jimmy Kimmel appears to have soured beyond repair, with Maher pointing to their political differences as the cause.

 The "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" host has been a long-time critic of Donald Trump, while Maher, though similarly outspoken, seemed to soften his stance after a dinner with Trump last year. 

Adding to the tension, Kimmel's wife, Molly McNeary, revealed that Trump's feud with her husband led her to cut ties with friends and family who supported the president, a move Maher openly criticized.

On Monday's episode of "Club Random podcast," Maher spoke candidly about the tension between him and Kimmel with Adam Carolla, who previously co-hosted "The Man Show" with Kimmel.

"Jimmy Kimmel, you know, he's very mad at me, and I know you're close to him," Maher told Carolla before passing on an apology. 

"I hope you tell [Kimmel] that I'm sorry that it got bent out of shape," Maher added. "I don't think I did anything wrong. We can have disagreements." 

He went on to note that he and Carolla have had their own clashes over the years without it ever costing them their friendship. Maher also praised Kimmel as "one of the nicest guys" before addressing what he believes caused the fallout.

Maher went on to rant that parts of the left have become increasingly intolerant of differing views, something he rejects, as he does not fully align with either side.

"And if that's not good enough for you, then I think you're the a-hole," Maher said, quickly adding that he does not believe Kimmel fits that description. 

"I think he's a great guy, and it bugs me that, you know, because of what the latest thing was, that, you know, we may never talk again," Maher admitted.

While Maher did not spell out the exact cause for their dispute, it follows earlier comments he made about Kimmel's wife, McNearney, who spoke publicly about severing ties with family members over their support for the president.

At the time, Maher slammed the idea of political ultimatums. While he said he could name a hundred reasons not to vote for Trump, he pointed out that coercion only deepens divisions.

"Ultimatums don't make people rethink their politics," Maher said, per Entertainment Weekly. "They make them rethink you."

In McNearny's remarks, which Maher addressed, she opened up about the emotional toll of her husband's feud with the U.S leader and how it forced her to make difficult choices to protect her family.

McNearny described the situation between her husband and the president as deeply painful. She went on to explain that seeing close friends and relatives support Trump felt like a personal betrayal.

 "To me, them voting for Trump is them not voting for my husband and me and our family," she said, per The Blast. "And I unfortunately have kind of lost relationships with people in my family because of it."

Kimmel's family has seen him take the brunt of Trump's criticism and even endured harsher times, such as his suspension from ABC over Charlie Kirk's remarks.

Kimmel previously reflected on how his family felt shaken by the setback. As The Blast reported, he recalled his wife seeing him look "whiter than Jim Gaffigan" after meeting with the network executives.

He added that his daughter offered to sell her Labubus, which he described as a sweet gesture.

While Maher has suggested that his fallout with Kimmel reflects the inability of both the political left and right to tolerate opposing views, he has remained firm in his stance.

Last November, Maher argued that political intolerance in Hollywood now reflects the infamous blacklist era of the 1950s.

According to The Blast, Maher explained that what was once a witch hunt for suspected communists has evolved into a crusade against those deemed "not woke enough."

He defended his willingness to engage with people across the political spectrum, including Trump, whom he frequently criticizes.

Despite years of openly blasting Trump, Maher had a change of heart after a private dinner with him last April, offering unexpected praise for Trump's political effectiveness and authenticity.

"Trump really ... is one of the most effective politicians ... whatever you think of the policy and him as a person," Maher said, per The Blast. 

Maher explained that Trump succeeds because he leans fully into who he is instead of trying to sound fake.