Megyn Kelly calls Bill Maher a ‘hypocrite’ over pro-Israel monologue: 'He's full BLM 2020'

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Conservative podcaster Megyn Kelly blasted comedian Bill Maher after his pro-Israel monologue, accusing the longtime “anti-woke” comic of suddenly embracing identity politics when it comes to his own background.

Maher’s remarks came during the closing minutes of his “New Rules” segment on 'Real Time With Bill Maher,' where he launched into a passionate defense of Israel while arguing that criticism of the Jewish state has crossed into outright antisemitism.

“And, new rule, since yesterday was Israel’s birthday, having become a nation on May 14, 78 years ago, everyone must at least wish her a happy birthday or admit they’re antisemitic,” Maher said.

“Now, it’s everyone’s right in a free country to be antisemitic, but enough with hiding behind Israel, or Zionism, or Netanyahu,” Maher continued. “If you think, as so many do now, that when it comes to human rights, Israel is the monster country of all time, you either don’t read, or you don’t care about your own hypocrisy. Because there are so many worse places. But that’s where we are these days: No Jews, no news.”

The crowd appeared unsure how to react, breaking into scattered, uneasy laughter before Maher dryly responded with a sarcastic, “Ha ha.”

Megyn Kelly slams Bill Maher over pro-Israel monologue

Kelly clearly wasn’t buying the speech. “He’s such a hypocrite,” Kelly wrote Saturday on X. “‘Anti-woke warrior’ except when it comes to the one identity he shares and then he’s full BLM 2020.”

Maher has long spoken publicly about his family background. His mother was Jewish, while he was raised with a Catholic education. He has also said on his 'Club Random' podcast that he personally does not identify as Jewish, despite the fact that religious Jews would still consider him Jewish because of his maternal heritage.

Kelly strongly defended Israel after the October 7, 2023, Hamas terror attacks. But she has also sharply criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.

She also took aim at Israeli influence in US politics, particularly among conservatives who supported President Donald Trump becoming involved in Israel’s strikes on Iran.

Bill Maher says antisemitism unites political left and right

During Maher’s monologue, he argued that antisemitism has become one of the few issues uniting both political extremes.

“People say the left and the right can’t agree on anything these days," he said. "Well, there is this one thing they agree on. Right-winger Tucker Carlson has Nick Fuentes and Holocaust deniers on his podcast and wonders along with them, ‘Who really was the bad guy in WWII?’ And The New York Times has on their podcast super-leftist Hasan Piker who they call a ‘progressive mind,’ and who says Zionists should be treated the same as Nazis, which I assume means hung at Nuremberg.”

The comedian closed the segment with a direct shot at Democrats, accusing them of going soft on antisemitism because younger voters increasingly view Israel unfavorably.

“There is a frothing anxiousness for the literal extermination of this one group. And, Democrats, where are you?” Maher said.

“If any other minority group was talked about this way, you’d break out the kente cloths and have 10 benefit concerts. But because you see so many of your brainwashed-by-TikTok constituents now have an unfavorable view of Israel, you indulge them when you should be correcting them.”

“Let me just say this to all who ask me, ‘Why are you harder on the Democrats than you used to be?’” he added. “Until you fix this whole issue, stop asking me.”