Title: Howard Stern Ends Friendship with Bill Maher Over Comments About On-Air Affection for Wife
Subtitle: Radio shock jock accuses Maher of being sexist and intrusive
Date: [Insert Date]
Howard Stern, the renowned radio shock jock, has publicly announced the end of his friendship with Bill Maher following comments made by the “Real Time” host about Stern’s on-air affection for his wife. The fallout ensued after Maher questioned Stern’s habit of publicly expressing his love for his current wife, Beth Stern, during an episode of his Club Random podcast.
During the podcast episode, Maher remarked, “[Howard Stern] goes on about how much he loves his wife, Beth, which he has been doing on the air for, like, 10 years. But we know Howard had this other wife before Beth,” alluding to Stern’s previous marriage to Alison Berns, which ended in divorce in 2001.
In response to Maher’s comments, Stern accused Maher of being “sexist” and criticized him for assuming he knew the details of his first marriage. Stern stated, “What a sexist thing to say! Like, what a convoluted, nutty thing to say. It’s assuming that he knows something about my first marriage. That, of course, the man must be leaving the woman and the woman must be devastated and be sitting around pining away for her famous man.”
Stern expressed his displeasure with Maher’s intrusion, stating, “He ought to shut his mouth! I mean, I don’t think I come on the air every day and say, ‘I love my wife.’ But I thought it was a pretty positive message, especially with my audience, to say… how about talking about that we appreciate them and love them.”
The rift between Stern and Maher deepened when Stern referred to Maher’s comments as “sexist” and declared the end of their friendship. Stern’s response gained traction among his fans, many of whom praised his commitment to highlighting the importance of expressing love and appreciation in relationships.
Since Maher’s comments, neither party has issued a public statement addressing the situation. However, it can be inferred from Stern’s remarks that the incident has strained their friendship, which recently saw a rekindling of their relationship after years of estrangement.
In October 2019, Stern appeared as a guest on Maher’s HBO show, “Real Time,” during which they expressed joy at reconnecting. Stern mentioned his loving relationship with Beth Stern, his wife since 2008, and Maher, a self-proclaimed bachelor, joked about enjoying the freedom of being alone.
As the fallout from Maher’s comments continues to unfold, it remains to be seen whether the two personalities will reconcile or if their friendship is irreparably damaged.