Bill Maher divulged that he and Ben Affleck have never really moved past their infamous on-air argument over Islam in 2014.
“I love him, but we just are gonna disagree on that one,” Maher said of the intense exchange, during Monday’s episode of the Club Random podcast.
Maher also claimed he’s invited the “Armageddon” actor to join him for “Real Time” each year since the televised role, but a repeat appearance hasn’t materialized.
“I don’t know,” Maher said. “Maybe if I talked to him privately or it’s been, you know, 12 years, maybe I think there’s a middle ground.”
Ultimately, the talk show star said, the dramatic clash became a cultural talking point.
“More people mention that episode to me than anything,” Maher explained. “It wasn’t the best episode we ever had, but it got emotional with a movie star. That’s America.”
A rep for Affleck did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment on Wednesday.
During the October 2014 squabble on “Real Time,” Affleck took exception to the talk show host — who was also joined by guest Sam Harris — saying that Islam is “the only religion that acts like the Mafia that will f–king kill you if you say the wrong thing.”
The “Gone Girl” star, now 54, called the perceived generalizations “gross and racist,” and at one point, cradled his head in his hands with apparent despair at Maher’s opinions — which included an assertion by Harris that “Islam is the motherload of bad ideas.”
“How about more than a billion people who aren’t fanatical, who don’t punch women, who just want to go to school, have some sandwiches, pray five times a day, and don’t do any of the things you’re saying of all Muslims?” Affleck said. “It’s stereotyping.”
Affleck later commented on the spat, saying at a November 2014 event that he “was ultimately making a ‘Sesame Street’ argument.”
“You don’t judge a whole group of people based on the actions of a few,” he added while attending the Save the Children Illumination Gala at the time.
“That’s the environment around my dinner table when we talk politics,” he added of the heated exchange.
“I think I’d rather tell the truth and say what I believe in and make people unhappy than sort of pretend to think of something else to accommodate them and try to be liked,” he concluded.
“That’s just the way it goes and I don’t think I’m any great champion of anything, but if they’re going to put me on a show, I’m going to say what I think.”
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