All articles tagged with #mark twain prize
Whitney Cummings used the Mark Twain Prize for Humor to jab at Donald Trump with a line referencing Jeffrey Epstein, but that harsh joke about Trump’s alleged ties was left out of the Netflix broadcast honoring Bill Maher.
Whitney Cummings says Netflix’s Mark Twain Prize telecast is cutting her closing Trump joke (alluding to ‘sex trafficking’), with Netflix noting the Kennedy Center has the contractual right to edit; she also revealed on her podcast that another Trump joke she included in the set will be edited out of the broadcast.
Whitney Cummings says Netflix did not cut her Trump-Epstein joke from the Kennedy Center’s Mark Twain Prize telecast, while Netflix notes the center—under a rights deal and a board aligned with Trump—has contractual authority to edit broadcasts. The ceremony is trimmed for time each year, and edits are made in collaboration to produce the broadcast. Cummings had suggested the joke was circulating publicly and fought for its inclusion as part of free expression at the event honoring Bill Maher, though she acknowledged the practical need to avoid job losses and production delays.
Comedian Whitney Cummings says the Kennedy Center censored a brutal joke about Donald Trump from her Mark Twain Prize set before it streamed on Netflix; the joke referenced Trump’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Netflix said it wasn’t their call to edit, while the Kennedy Center asserted it had contractual rights to remove material. Cummings noted staff warned the cut could cost people their jobs and chose not to publicly fight the decision, joking at one point about suing Trump.
Bill Maher, 70, says on Club Random that he doesn’t care about Trump’s personality and that obsessing over it is a losing tactic, arguing you win by not engaging with the president and focusing on his actions. He also criticizes Democrats as cowardly and radical, recalls his White House dinner with Trump, and notes Trump’s renovation obsessions as distractions, while highlighting that he recently received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor and will continue critiquing policy rather than personal theatrics.
Netflix’s Mark Twain Prize trailer for Bill Maher leans toward a light, roast-free ceremony with guests like Louis C.K., Whitney Cummings, and Jay Leno. The page also notes Oh, Mary! is being filmed in London with Cole Escola, while FCC chair Brendan Carr faces ethics questions over gifts from Paramount tied to mergers. Additionally, The Batman: Part II is officially moving forward with a February 18, 2028 release and a tease of Pattinson back in the Batsuit.
Bill Maher is celebrated as the 'ultimate contrarian' at the Kennedy Center's Mark Twain Prize, a relaxed gala where colleagues praised his intellect and audience loyalty; the smaller crowd reflected ongoing Trump-related tensions surrounding the venue, and Netflix will televise a July special featuring performances by stars like Mellencamp.
Bill Maher accepts the Kennedy Center’s Mark Twain Prize and uses red-carpet and acceptance remarks to critique Donald Trump, jokes about the tarp obscuring the center’s name, and argues for honesty and individuality in comedy over pandering.
Bill Maher received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the Kennedy Center, but the evening was overwhelmed by Donald Trump’s influence on the venue, including a legal battle over his name on the building and a tarp covering the facade. The ceremony featured Trump jokes from impersonators and fellow comics, while Maher used his speech to address political tribalism and his long career. The event will be aired on Netflix on July 21.
Bill Maher said on his Real Time monologue that he has no issue with Donald Trump’s attempt to block his Kennedy Center honor, framing it as a way to keep the back-and-forth going; he’s set to receive the 2026 Mark Twain Prize and joked that he would accept the award and then give it to Trump. Maher described his relationship with Trump as complicated, noting a feud dating back to 2013 and a brief 2025 dinner truce, and stressed that engagement rather than disengagement drives his career.
Bill Maher, after a week of back-and-forth over his Mark Twain Prize, pivots to praise for Donald Trump on Real Time, saying he doesn’t want a fight and even inviting Trump to attend the ceremony, amid White House denials and a visible shift in Maher’s stance toward his longtime foe.
Bill Maher is set to receive the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, despite an initial White House denial, with a June 28 Kennedy Center ceremony that underscores his long-running role in sharp, politically charged satire.
Bill Maher said on Real Time that President Trump tried to block his Kennedy Center Honor; after White House denials, the Kennedy Center confirmed he’ll receive the 27th Mark Twain Prize for Humor at a June 28 ceremony, with Netflix streaming afterward. Maher joked about giving the award to Trump and referenced their long-running feud, including a past orangutan lawsuit; Trump has publicly criticized Maher on Truth Social.
Bill Maher, 70, was named the 27th recipient of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the Kennedy Center, despite White House denials that he would win amid a months-long feud with Donald Trump; the gala is set for June 28 at the Trump-Kennedy Center, with TV/Netflix exposure, and the center’s future under Trump’s leadership has been framed as uncertain, as Maher and Trump trade barbs on Truth Social and in Maher’s Real Time response.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations condemned the Kennedy Center’s decision to award Bill Maher the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, calling his pro-Israel stance and alleged anti-Muslim bigotry a glaring double standard. The Kennedy Center announced Maher would receive the award at a June 28 ceremony, even as the center faces renovation-related closures; a publicist for Maher did not respond to requests for comment.