Bill Maher Calls Out ‘The View’ Hosts — and Even His Friends Aren’t Safe From His Unfiltered Take

It started as light banter. Drew Barrymore, all smiles on the set of The Drew Barrymore Show, casually invited HBO’s Real Time host Bill Maher to come to New York and be a guest.

What she didn’t expect? For Maher to turn that harmless invitation into one of the most unfiltered, headline-making critiques of The View — and its biggest stars — that we’ve seen in years.

“I’m friendly with some of the ladies on The View and I love them,” Maher began with his trademark grin, the kind that always signals a bombshell is coming. “But… that show’s a lot.”

The audience laughed. Barrymore chuckled. But Maher wasn’t done.

From Friendly Banter to Political Grenade

Barrymore brought up Joy Behar, telling Maher she’d recently had the fiery View co-host on her own show.

“I love Joy,” Maher responded without hesitation. “I like everybody on the ABC talk show. But…” — and here came the pivot — “I’m not such a fan of their talking points. They say some things that are just, like… not helpful. Say, to elections.”

And just like that, Maher had opened the door to a larger conversation — one that stretched beyond Barrymore’s sunny stage and into the heart of the political-media divide.

Flashback to His Last Visit — Sparks With Sunny Hostin

Maher knows exactly what it’s like to be in The View’s hot seat. In May 2024, he appeared on the show and ended up in a heated back-and-forth with co-host Sunny Hostin over Israel’s war with Hamas.

Hostin accused Israel of murdering innocent Palestinian civilians and children during the conflict. Maher pushed back — hard.

“I’m concerned about innocent lives being lost,” he told her, “but Israel has the right to fight its war with Hamas. And if Hamas was concerned about innocent lives, they’d stop their attacks.”

He punctuated it with the kind of blunt line that makes Twitter explode:

“That’s what happens in a war. Here’s a way to stop that — stop attacking Israel.”

The tension in the studio that day was palpable. Social media lit up for days afterward, with clips of the exchange racking up millions of views.

Calling Out Whoopi — and the ‘Stupid Woke’

Maher didn’t stop at Sunny Hostin. In recent weeks, he’s publicly taken aim at another View heavyweight — Whoopi Goldberg.

Goldberg had claimed in July that Black people in America are oppressed in the same way that women are oppressed in Iran.

To Maher, that was a bridge too far.

“That is something that, again, is infuriating about the far left,” he said on his Club Random podcast. “Call them whatever they want — not the woke, the stupid woke — like Whoopi Goldberg. Love her, but when she said a couple weeks ago that being Black was the same as being a woman in Iran… it’s like, yeah, in 1920. But not today.”

The comment hit a nerve. Supporters applauded him for calling out what they saw as an overreach in Goldberg’s comparison. Critics blasted him for dismissing systemic racism in the U.S.

Either way, Maher had once again inserted himself into the cultural conversation — and put one of his longtime friends in the spotlight.

Maher’s Balancing Act: Friends vs. Facts

Maher’s critics love to paint him as a provocateur who thrives on making people uncomfortable. His fans see him as one of the last public voices willing to challenge both the left and the right with equal ferocity.

But the tension here is personal. Maher repeatedly insists he loves the women of The View — yet he’s just as quick to dismantle their arguments when he thinks they’ve crossed into unhelpful territory.

And in today’s climate, where friendship often comes second to ideological purity, that’s a risky tightrope to walk.

Why This Hits Harder Than Usual

Normally, Maher’s critiques are directed at politicians, movements, or nebulous “trends.” But this time, his words were aimed squarely at The View, a show that has become an institution in daytime television — and one with a fiercely loyal fan base.

The women he’s calling out aren’t just public figures; they’re also people he’s shared green rooms and laughs with for years.

That’s what makes his comments sting — and what makes them news.

The Drew Barrymore Factor

Barrymore, for her part, handled the pivot like a pro. She smiled through Maher’s candor, steering the conversation without shutting it down.

Her own reputation for warmth and empathy contrasted sharply with Maher’s blunt edges, creating the kind of dynamic producers dream about — the sugar and the salt, side by side.

Public Reaction: Applause, Outrage, and Everything in Between

The internet, predictably, split into camps.

On X (formerly Twitter):

“Maher is right — The View’s hot takes can be ridiculous. This needed to be said.”

“Another rich man telling women how to talk. Pass.”

On YouTube:

“We need more of this — friends calling out friends when they’re wrong.”

“He says he loves them, then drags them. Typical Maher.”

On Facebook:

“I don’t always agree with Maher, but Whoopi’s Iran comment was out there. Glad someone addressed it.”

“This is why I don’t watch him — smug and dismissive.”

The Larger Question: Can Maher Still ‘Visit’ The View?

If Barrymore was serious about inviting Maher to her show, the bigger question is whether The View would extend another invite anytime soon.

On one hand, Maher’s appearances bring ratings. On the other, they almost always end in fiery exchanges that dominate headlines for days — which can be both a blessing and a curse.

Maher’s Brand — and Why He Won’t Stop

Maher’s entire career has been built on the premise that no topic is off-limits and no person is too sacred to critique. That’s part of why his fan base remains loyal — and why his detractors remain vocal.

By targeting The View while maintaining that he still likes and respects its hosts, he’s threading a needle most public figures wouldn’t even attempt.

But if history is any guide, this won’t be the last time Maher tangles with the ladies of The View.

The Takeaway

Bill Maher walked into The Drew Barrymore Show and walked out with another viral moment — not by picking a fight with Drew, but by pulling back the curtain on his real thoughts about The View and its hosts.

He says it’s all love. But in Maher’s world, loving someone doesn’t mean staying silent when you think they’ve crossed a line.

The question is: Will those friendships survive his version of “love,” or has Maher just guaranteed himself another headline-making clash the next time he steps onto The View’s set?

One thing’s for sure — whether you love him, hate him, or both in the same breath, Bill Maher knows exactly how to keep the conversation going.