Watch Ice Cube Question Bill Maher About Controversial Remarks on “Real Time”

Tonight, Ice Cube appeared on HBO’s “Real Time With Bill Maher” following last week’s episode, in which Maher used a racial slur. Maher started tonight’s episode with an apology: “I did a bad thing. For black folks, that word, I don’t care who you are, it’s caused pain. It doesn’t matter that it was not said in malice, it caused pain and that’s why I apologized.” When Cube joined Maher on stage, the rapper stated he was “cool with” Maher and enjoyed the show. However, he then immediately took Maher to task over his racist remarks. He said:

I accept your apology, but I think we need to get to the root of the psyche. Because I think it’s a lot of guys out there, who cross the line ‘cause they a little too familiar or they think they too familiar. Or its guys that y’know, might have a black girlfriend or two that made them some Kool-Aid every now and then. And they think they can cross the line. And they can’t. It’s a word that’s been used against us. It’s like a knife, man. You can use it as a weapon or you can use it as a tool. It’s been used as a weapon, against us. By white people. And we not gon’ let that happen again. By nobody. Because it’s not cool.

Originally, Ice Cube was booked to appear on tonight’s show to promote his new Death Certificate 25th anniversary reissue. Democratic Senator Al Franken, who was also set to appear on tonight’s episode, cancelled in the wake of Maher’s controversial joke. During Ice Cube’s Reddit AMA earlier today, a user asked the question, “Thoughts on Bill Maher using the n-word?” In response, Ice Cube wrote: “He needs to check him self before he wreck himself.”

Following last week’s episode, Maher and HBO have both issued apologies for the incident. “The word was offensive and I regret saying it and am very sorry,” Maher said in a statement. Killer Mike responded to Maher’s remarks, writing that he was “cool with” Maher: “My end goal is true freedom and not exhausting my life mad at white people when I can love my life loving black people.” Chance the Rapper weighed in by asking HBO to cancel Maher’s show.

During an online exclusive post-show segment, Ice Cube gave his opinion on streaming services like Spotify. (“I get paid,” he said.) Later, CNN analyst David Gregory asked him for his opinion on rappers like Migos, Future, and Playboi Carti compared to the political rap of his heyday. Ice Cube responded by praising Kendrick Lamar and Kanye West. Find that footage below.

Revisit our Sunday Review of Ice Cube’s Death Certificate.

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