Bill Maher has a theory on why he has never received much recognition from the Television Academy, though whether viewers will accept it remains uncertain. During Monday's episode of his podcast Club Random, Maher proposed that he has been a victim of "soft canceling" throughout his career, which might explain why he has been nominated for an Emmy Award 41 times but has won only once.
Maher's Explanation of Soft Canceling
"There are different gradations of it. There's soft canceling. I would say I've had some of that happen to me," Maher said while speaking with actor and comedian David Cross. When Cross asked for clarification, Maher added: "Soft canceling would be like, 'We will never give you an Emmy,' even though plainly I've deserved them."
Emmy Win and Nominations
Despite Maher's claim, he did win an Emmy in 2014 for Outstanding Informational Series or Special as an executive producer on HBO's Vice, a documentary series created by Shane Smith. However, despite numerous nominations as host of Real Time with Bill Maher since 2003, he has consistently left empty-handed.
Cross chuckled at the suggestion, prompting Maher to clarify: "I'm just saying there are gradations of ways you can soft cancel or hard cancel, like you may never show your face in this town again." Cross responded by suggesting the need for "a new term that's not so definitive," adding: "For you to say there's soft canceling and hard canceling ... to me, that means we need some new language for it."
Public Reaction
Like Cross, many viewers found humor in Maher's remarks, though not in the way he likely intended. "He's been a comedian for decades and he finally said something funny," one person wrote on X. Another added: "Powerful stuff here and a reminder to never give up. After nearly 50 years in comedy, Bill Maher got his first laugh."
Controversies and Recent Events
Maher did not cite examples of why he believes he has been "soft canceled" during his discussion with Cross. However, last year he drew heated criticism after agreeing to dine with President Donald Trump at the White House, despite previously criticizing Trump. Later in 2025, he publicly criticized Molly McNearney, wife of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, when she acknowledged cutting ties with family members who supported Trump.
Interestingly, Maher's comments on the lack of Emmy Awards come just months after a notable loss to fellow comedian Ricky Gervais at the 2026 Golden Globes in January. Accepting the award on Gervais's behalf, comedian Wanda Sykes took a playful dig at Maher, who did not appear amused. "You give us so much. But I would love a little less," she said. "Just try less."
