Bill Maher sparked mixed reactions during Friday’s episode of Real Time after making a joke about Ariana Grande’s weight, states Variety.
During his opening monologue, Maher was discussing UFOs and recently released files about alleged sightings when he turned his attention to the pop star.
“I hope the aliens are here, I do. I hope they’re here and watching us and they’re going to save us,” Maher said.
He then joked about descriptions of strange figures in the UFO files, adding, “A stick-like figure with large eyes. Oh, that was just an Ariana Grande video.”
The remark drew laughter and applause from the audience.
However, Maher’s follow-up joke received a more uncomfortable response, with some audience members groaning.
“Please, we kid. We kid. Maybe that joke will make her eat something,” he added.
The comments come shortly after Grande announced that she plans to step back from public-facing work following her Eternal Sunshine tour.
On 2 August, Grande’s representative said the singer would take a break from visibility after completing the tour, citing “ongoing public scrutiny” as one of the reasons.
The statement said Grande wanted to finish the tour “healthily and happily” before taking a break from public appearances.
Grande later addressed the announcement directly during her performance at Chicago’s United Center.
She told fans that her decision was not impulsive and had been planned quietly for some time.
“Sometimes when a story comes out that’s not directly from me, things can get a little blown out of proportion,” she said.
Grande added that the decision had been made “from a thoughtful and empowered place.”
Her announcement came as she continues to face intense public attention surrounding her appearance and personal life.
