HBO Host Bill Maher Used the N-Word on TV & People Are Calling for Him to Be Fired

On Friday's episode of his HBO show Real Time With Bill Maher, the TV host apparently decided it was a good idea to use the n-word on national television - and for obvious reasons, people are not happy, and calling for him to be fired.

The Washington Post reports that Maher was interviewing Nebraska Republican Senator Ben Sasse about his new book. The incident began with Maher saying that he should get to Nebraska more often, to which Sasse replied, "We’d love to have you work in the fields with us."

Things took a turn for the much, much worse when Maher responded by saying, "Work in the fields? Senator, I’m a house *n-word.*"

Maher's comment was met both with groans and cheers from the audience, and Sasse smiled, albeit uncomfortably, but still did nothing to call Maher out.

Saturday morning, people were already taking to Twitter to call for Maher's firing, and #FireBillMaher was trending.

While HBO has yet to announce any specific action agains Maher, the the network released a statement calling his comment, "inexcusable and tasteless," saying that it would be removed from future airings of the show - though it was never bleeped out during the first airing.

As for Sasse, the politician tweeted a response on Saturday morning, saying, "Here’s what I wish I’d been quick enough to say in the moment: 'Hold up, why would you think it’s OK to use that word? The history of the n-word is an attack on universal human dignity. It’s therefore an attack on the American Creed. Don't use it.'"

Okay but seriously, raise your hand if you can't believe this even happened in the first place?