Bill Maher Needled for Joking About Ronan Farrow’s Father, ‘Whoever That May Be’ (Video)
Bill Maher’s parting quip Friday night about the paternity of his “Real Time” guest, Ronan Farrow, had many fans calling the joke a “cheap laugh” that “stepped over the line.”
In a 2013 Vanity Fair story, Farrow’s mother, actress Mia Farrow, revealed that Ronan’s biological father was “possibly” her ex-husband Frank Sinatra, and not Woody Allen. Since then, Farrow’s resemblance to the late crooner has sparked speculative chatter, which the Pulitzer Prize-winning author has taken in stride.
At the end of Maher’s interview with Farrow on Friday’s HBO show, the comedian applauded the journalist’s first book — “War on Peace: The End of Diplomacy and the Decline of American Influence” — and articles late last year in The New Yorker which helped uncover the Harvey Weinstein sexual abuse accusations.
Also Read: New York Times, New Yorker Share Pulitzer Prize for Harvey Weinstein Bombshells
“Amazing work on a number of fronts,” the HBO host told Farrow, adding, “You obviously have your mother’s incredible compassion… and your father’s steely ambition… whoever that may be.”
Farrow’s entire interview is above, including the reaction to Maher’s comment.
Although the journalist has joked about it in the past, tweeting at the time “Listen, we’re all *possibly* Frank Sinatra’s son,” some on Twitter thought Farrow’s paternity was no laughing matter.
Also Read: Ronan Farrow's Trump-Affair Bombshell: Conservative Twitter Is All, 'But Bill Clinton...'
“I like Bill, but that comment about Farrow’s father was rude and stepped over the line,” wrote on Twitter user. Here are a few others.
I like Bill, but that comment about Farrow’s father was rude and stepped over the line.
— ?ι?????? (@CoQueenBee) April 28, 2018
Why the unecessary jab at the end of an otherwise great conversation with Ronan Farrow?
– Armen (@jibkat1) April 28, 2018
I wouldn’t blame Ronan if he never did your show again. This amazingly brilliant man did not deserve the low comment you made just for a cheap laugh. So disrespectful Bill. There’s a time and a place and you miscalculated that one!
— Deb from IL???????????????????? (@MyRedBeetle) April 28, 2018
Dude, he looks freakishly like Sinatra. Just saying…
– Karen Deering (@KarenEDeering) April 28, 2018
Cant even believe he went there
- Travel Pic Fix (@travelpicfix) April 28, 2018
He can be a total dick, but speaks so much truth, I can look past it.
— Regina Stultz (@ReginaStultz) April 28, 2018
Bill, since you went there. #RealTime #RealDaddy ??’–???? pic.twitter.com/QMA7WtNiG0
– easy there coconut hands (@notthebadplace) April 28, 2018
It was flat out catty.
- Margo Jones (@3DTruth) April 28, 2018
Related stories from TheWrap:
7 Biggest Shockers in Ronan Farrow's New Yorker Story About Trump and Karen McDougal
Ronan Farrow's Trump-Affair Bombshell: Conservative Twitter Is All, 'But Bill Clinton…'
Ronan Farrow on Enquirer's Ties to Trump: 'They Can Hold This Story Over the President'