Bill Maher has a theory on why he’s never garnered much love from the Television Academy ― although whether viewers will buy it is questionable.
On Monday’s episode of his “Club Random” podcast, Maher suggested he’d been a victim of “soft canceling” in his career, which could explain why he’s been nominated for an Emmy Award a total of 41 times, but only won once.
“There are different gradations of it. There’s soft canceling. I would say I’ve had some of that happen to me,” Maher said while in conversation with actor and comedian David Cross.
When Cross asked what he meant, Maher added: “Soft canceling would be like, ‘We will never give you an Emmy,’ even though plainly I’ve deserved them.”
Despite Maher’s claim, he actually won an Emmy in 2014 for Outstanding Informational Series or Special in recognition of his role as an executive producer on HBO’s “Vice,” a documentary series created and hosted by Shane Smith of Vice magazine.
Despite his many nominations as the host of HBO’s “Real Time with Bill Maher” since 2003, however, he’s routinely gone home empty-handed.
Watch Monday’s episode of Bill Maher’s “Club Random” podcast below. His remarks on being “soft canceled” begin around the 13:36 mark.
When Cross chuckled at the suggestion, Maher clarified: “I’m just saying there are gradations of ways you can soft cancel or hard cancel, like you may never show your face in this town again.”
Cross, however, went on to suggest the need for “a new term that’s not so definitive,” adding: “For you to say there’s soft canceling and hard canceling … to me, that means we need some new language for it.”
Like Cross, many viewers found humor in Maher’s remarks, albeit not in the way he’d likely intended.
“He’s been a comedian for decades and he finally said something funny,” one person wrote on X.
Added another: “Powerful stuff here and a reminder to never give up. After nearly 50 years in comedy, Bill Maher got his first laugh.”
Maher didn’t cite examples of why he believes he’s been “soft canceled” during his discussion with Cross. Last year, however, he drew heated criticism after agreeing to have dinner with President Donald Trump at the White House, despite having criticized Trump in the past.
Later in 2025, he also publicly criticized Molly McNearney ― who happens to be the wife of late-night TV host Jimmy Kimmel ― when she acknowledged severing ties with some of her family members who supported Trump.
Interestingly, Maher’s comments on the lack of Emmy Awards come just months after a notable loss to fellow comedian Ricky Gervais at the 2026 Golden Globes in January.
Accepting the award on Gervais’ behalf, comedian Wanda Sykes took a playful dig at Maher, who did not appear to be amused.
“You give us so much. But I would love a little less,” she said. “Just try less.”
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