Bill Maher recently shared his thoughts on what he terms “eyeroll activism” during a red carpet interview and a segment of his HBO show, “Real Time.” On January 30, Maher expanded on comments he made at the Golden Globes, where he was asked why he wasn’t wearing a pin in honor of Renée Good, a Minnesota woman tragically shot by an ICE agent on January 7. While his fellow attendees, including Wanda Sykes and Mark Ruffalo, showcased their support with pins that read “Be Good,” Maher responded, “Come on, we’re here for show business today. You know, it was a terrible thing that happened, and it shouldn’t have happened. And, if they didn’t act like such thugs, it wouldn’t have had to happen. But I don’t need to wear a pin about it.”
During his HBO broadcast, Maher reaffirmed his skepticism towards the effectiveness of such activism. With a dose of sarcasm, he remarked, “I hope I didn’t spoil the perfect record of pins and ribbons solving all the world’s problems.” He pointed out the fleeting nature of activist trends, referring to how the fervor for Ukrainian flags has waned, saying, “What happened to that? Another cause tossed into the junk drawer with yesterday’s choke collar?” He criticized the trend of “virtue-signaling” among celebrities, likening the pins to “crucifixes for liberals,” suggesting that they serve more to showcase one’s virtue than to create real change.
Maher’s candid remarks have ignited discussions about the role of celebrities in social activism, revealing a divide over whether symbolic gestures genuinely contribute to societal improvement or merely serve as flares of self-aggrandizement. As Hollywood continues to navigate its influence on social issues, Maher’s commentary reminds audiences to consider the effectiveness behind these actions and question the sincerity of such expressions of support.