Comedian Bill Maher sparked outrage with a controversial joke about Taylor Swift’s love life during the opening monologue of his HBO show Real Time. The 69-year-old comedian made a biting remark about Swift’s year-long relationship with NFL player Travis Kelce, which many viewed as outdated and misogynistic.
Maher questioned how Swift had managed to maintain a stable relationship with Kelce for over a year, despite past jokes about her dating history being long considered old news. He compared Swift’s relationship to the political turmoil in the world, joking, “This world is so upside down now. It took [President] Trump three weeks to break up with Ukraine, Mexico, and Canada. And yet, Taylor Swift has the same boyfriend for over a year.”
The joke immediately drew criticism from Swift’s fanbase, the Swifties, who took to social media to defend the pop star. Many felt Maher’s comment relied on tired stereotypes about Swift’s dating life. One Twitter user called Maher’s obsession with Swift “on brand for a misogynist,” while another noted that the joke was “creepy when she was a teenager, but now it’s just lame.”
Some fans criticized Maher for repeatedly making jokes about Swift’s romantic life, with one person commenting, “Bill seems obsessed with her. Every week, another cheap, not funny shot.” Others found his humor out of touch, with one viewer saying, “It’s so 1980s. Pathetic.”
Maher’s controversial remark was posted on Twitter, where viewers continued to voice their disapproval. One fan even suggested, “I think the girl might need a restraining order at this point. He’s obviously obsessed with her.”
In addition to the Swift controversy, Maher stirred further debate with his comments on the 2025 Oscars. He claimed that actress Emilia Perez should have won an award, but was allegedly held back by “cancel culture.” Maher also argued that Karla Sofia Gascon deserved the Best Actress award, but was ignored due to past tweets that resurfaced and caused controversy.
