Comedian Bill Maher is facing intense backlash after making a crude joke about worldwide tributes following the death of country music legend Dolly Parton.
The host of HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher drew widespread fury online for mocking public grief while the singer's family gathered for her burial in Nashville, Tennessee.
Opening his monologue on Friday night, Maher noted that Parton's passing had dominated global headlines despite ongoing international crises, including war in Iran and trade disputes between the United States and Canada.
"All this was going on and all America could really talk about this week was how sad it is we lost Dolly Parton," Maher told the studio audience.
"Everybody around the country, even around the world - London, they're doing things, the Santa Monica Ferris wheel is lit up with hearts, the Empire State Building was put up in pink," he continued, referencing landmarks in California and New York City.
He then delivered the punchline: "The Sphere in Las Vegas added a nipple."
Monologue Joke Sparks Online Outrage
The comedian's comment was immediately condemned across social media platforms, with viewers accusing Maher of being disrespectful during a period of national mourning.
Writer Tara Dublin criticized Maher in a post online, connecting his behavior to a previous dinner he shared with former President Donald Trump, during which Trump signed a list of insults aimed at the host.
"Mocking our grief over losing Dolly Parton is just more proof that Trumpism [Bill Maher] is a soulless ghoul who wants his own Maher-a-Lago," Dublin wrote.
Progressive media outlet The Tennessee Holler also condemned Maher's monologue, calling the comedian "an absolute a**hole."
Social media users on X, formerly known as Twitter, argued that Maher's legacy would never match that of the country music icon.
"Dolly Parton will live through the ages. Bill Maher will be forgotten three months after her death. He doesn't like that," one user posted.
Another user wrote: "Bill Maher trying to get edgy about Dolly Parton is wild. Buddy, you're not "telling hard truths," you're just the guy who looked at a national treasure and said, "How can I make this about my bitterness?""
A third commenter added: "Seeing a person who spent most of her life trying to unite people through music and basic decency and empathy being celebrated and revered all week must be a foreign concept to him."
Mourners Gather in Nashville
Parton died on Tuesday morning at the age of 80 after being admitted to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville with autoimmune and kidney problems.
Her passing followed months of health woes that forced her to cancel a series of public appearances, raising concerns among her fans.
The singer's nephew and head of security, Bryan Seaver, officially confirmed her death in an emotional video shared on Instagram.
Maher's television remarks aired as Parton's loved ones gathered on Friday morning at Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Nashville for her burial service.
An intimate group of mourners, including Seaver, was seen arriving at the historic Tennessee cemetery. Guests wore colorful outfits instead of traditional funereal black attire.
Seaver revealed that the beloved entertainer would be laid to rest wearing high heels in the same mausoleum housing the remains of her husband of over half a century, Carl Dean.
It remained unclear whether Parton was interred during the Friday gathering. Family insiders indicated that a private service for close friends and relatives would take place in Nashville in the coming days.
Legacy of the Queen of Country
Parton, widely revered as the Queen of Country, enjoyed a legendary career in music and entertainment spanning six decades. She achieved global fame with classic hits such as Jolene and 9 to 5.
Born in Pittman Center, Tennessee, on January 19, 1946, she was the fourth of 12 children born to her family. Six of her siblings are still living.
Beyond her musical achievements, Parton was celebrated for her widespread charitable work. She created the Imagination Library, a global program providing free books to children from infancy to age five.
Over her lifetime, she also donated millions of dollars to various charitable causes, including children's hospitals and disaster relief organizations.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Maher's agents and HBO for comment regarding the reaction to his monologue.
