Steve-O, the daredevil prankster and stunt performer from the hit MTV show “Jackass,” recently shared that he had to turn down an appearance on Bill Maher’s popular “Club Random” podcast due to Maher’s alleged refusal to refrain from smoking marijuana during the interview.
Steve-O, who has been proudly sober for nearly 16 years now, felt disappointed that Maher, a self-proclaimed marijuana enthusiast, would not respect his sobriety by avoiding pot use if Steve-O was a guest.
As Steve-O explained on his own podcast “Wild Ride!,” maintaining his hard-won sobriety of almost 16 years has become incredibly important to him. He shared that “There’s nothing I value more than my sobriety. There’s nothing more that I protect than my recovery.”
So when Steve-O received the request to be on Bill Maher’s increasingly popular podcast “Club Random,” he agreed on one condition due to Maher’s penchant for blazing up while recording episodes. Steve-O asked that Bill Maher simply refrain from smoking marijuana while interviewing him out of respect for the comedian’s long journey to sobriety. Shockingly, Maher refused, calling it a deal breaker.
Steve-O expressed sincere disbelief that Bill Maher, who has built a reputation for pointed social commentary and debate, would not honor such a simple request from a recovering addict and guest. As Steve-O pointed out, other marijuana-focused podcasts like Mike Tyson’s “Hotboxin’” had no issue avoiding pot use during his appearances. But for Bill Maher, known for sparking joints while engaging guests on everything from politics to pop culture, resisting cannabis was inexplicably non-negotiable.
In the wake of Steve-O’s story going viral online, some fans pointed out Bill Maher has shown willingness to avoid marijuana out of respect for sober guests’ wishes in the past. For instance, Maher directly assured musician Sheryl Crow during her “Club Random” visit that he would not light up a joint in front of her, keeping his word; yet Maher denied this same basic courtesy to Steve-O.
Bill Maher’s apparent unwillingness to support Steve-O’s sobriety has struck many as hypocritical. As a self-proclaimed champion of human rights and progressive ideals, Maher’s stubborn refusal to simply refrain from pot while interviewing Steve-O seems at odds with his brand. Especially given Steve-O’s very public history of dangerous substance abuse and hard-fought recovery, Bill Maher had a real opportunity to demonstrate understanding and compassion by honoring one simple request.
Unfortunately, by making marijuana a “dealbreaker” for Steve-O’s proposed guest appearance, Bill Maher undermined his own message of open-mindedness and human dignity. Moreover, he disrespected the incredible discipline Steve-O has displayed in committing to sobriety for nearly 16 years since his wild days performing outrageous stunts on MTV’s hit show “Jackass.” True social progressivism requires supporting vulnerable communities, including those recovering from addiction.
Bill Maher failed that test with Steve-O.
Of course, Maher would likely argue that consuming marijuana is his right. However, that right must be balanced against respect for a sober guest making an entirely reasonable request while appearing on his platform. Steve-O’s journey from drug addiction to 16 years of sobriety is truly inspiring. Bill Maher could have used an interview with such a high-profile figure to affirm the importance of sobriety and honor Steve-O’s personal growth since his “Jackass” days.
Sadly, a marijuana fix took priority over principles.
Steve-O’s shocking story of Bill Maher’s inflexibility on pot has sparked vital discourse online around addiction, recovery and respect. When public figures like Bill Maher use their powerful platforms inconsiderately without regard for marginalized communities, they must be held accountable.
What do you think of Steve-O calling out Bill Maher? Leave a comment and let us know.
He’s right, Bill Maher is a pro-establishment Hack.