Bill Maher argues canceled stars like Louis CK, Kevin Spacey should be let out of 'show business jail'

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2026 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by LSEG. Bill Maher told NPR’s ‘Newsmakers’ podcast he believes canceled entertainers deserve a second chance, defending his decision to invite Louis C.K. to his Mark Twain Prize for American Humor ceremony. Comedian Bill Maher defended his decision to invite embattled comic Louis C.K. to his recent Mark Twain Prize ceremony, declaring that canceled stars should not face a lifetime ban from the entertainment industry. Speaking with NPR’s "Newsmakers" podcast, the host of HBO’s "Real Time" argued that the court of public opinion frequently ignores the rule of law. He pointed to his recent interviews with actors Kevin Spacey and Woody Allen and insisted society needs to recognize when someone has done his time. "People just want to believe what they want to believe. So, when the jury comes in on the side you like, 'Oh, perfect. The jury spoke.' But when they do