Comedian's Controversial Remark Halts Show
American comedian Bill Maher sent shockwaves through his typically liberal audience during a recent broadcast when he made a surprise joke about the death of former Vice President Dick Cheney. The 84-year-old Republican statesman had passed away just days earlier from complications of pneumonia and cardiac disease.
The controversial remark emerged during Maher's discussion of New York City's mayoral race, specifically focusing on Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa. The left-leaning comic quipped that Sliwa's campaign 'was dogged by accusations of: we thought you were dead.'
Audience Reaction Speaks Volumes
After receiving big laughs while reminiscing about Sliwa's prominence in 1980s and 1990s New York culture, Maher cruelly pivoted to Cheney. 'Speaking of we didn't know you were dead, Dick Cheney died,' the comedian declared.
The studio audience responded with audible groans and a brief but palpable silence that left Maher initially looking confused. He eventually threw his hands up in a gesture suggesting it was merely a joke, prompting eventual laughter from the crowd.
Maher then pressed his audience further, asking: 'How many people thought he was dead? Come on!' Despite the controversial opening, the comic did acknowledge Cheney as 'the most powerful vice president ever' before delivering another biting remark about his dying wish.
Cheney's Complex Legacy
Dick Cheney served alongside Republican President George W. Bush for two terms between 2001 and 2009, having previously held numerous high-ranking positions within the Republican party. He was the chief architect of the 'war on terror' and was in office during the morning of 9/11.
Maher highlighted Cheney's fractious relationship with former President Donald Trump, noting they 'were very different kinds of Republicans.' The comedian joked that 'Cheney used to send troops to occupy other countries,' in a pointed reference to Trump's deployment of the National Guard to American cities.
Cheney's passing on Monday evening prompted divided responses across the political spectrum. Critics condemned his war record while supporters praised his lifetime of service to the nation. Former President George W. Bush stated that Cheney's death 'is a loss to the nation and a sorrow to his friends.'
In his later years, Cheney became a vocal critic of Donald Trump, declaring in a 2022 campaign ad for his daughter Liz that there had 'never been an individual who was a greater threat to our republic than Donald Trump.' The former vice president even revealed last year that he would vote for Democratic candidate Kamala Harris over Trump.
Cheney had suffered coronary issues throughout his adult life, surviving five heart attacks and long believing he was living on borrowed time. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Lynne, and his daughters Liz and Mary.
