Bill Maher Calls College Student A 'Little Sh*t' For Criticizing Jerry Seinfeld

Lydia O'Connor
Updated

Political talk show host Bill Maher called a college writer a "little shit" on his HBO show Friday night for questioning comedian Jerry Seinfeld's claim that college audiences are too politically correct.

After San Diego State University student Anthony Berteaux, a campus editor-at-large with The Huffington Post, penned an open letter to Jerry Seinfeld telling him he was disheartened that the comedian thinks college audiences are too quick to call jokes racist, sexist or prejudiced, Maher told him to back off during a segment on "Real Time."

"Now, I sure wouldn't want to be judged by what I wrote at 20, but stupid though I was in 1976, I wouldn't have presumed to lecture George Carlin on comedy," Maher said, referring to the late, famed comedian. "Though I sure wish George was around today to write a letter back to this kid, as only he could. But since he can't, allow me: Dear you little shit, I'm sure you're busy with your new letter explaining astrophysics to Stephen Hawking and giving jump shot pointers to Steph Curry, but try to get a clue."

In an interview with ESPN earlier this month, Seinfeld echoed sentiments expressed by comedians Chris Rock and Larry the Cable Guy about young people taking offense too easily.

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“I don’t play colleges, but I hear a lot of people tell me, ‘Don’t go near colleges. They’re so PC,’” Seinfeld said. "[Young people] just want to use these words: ‘That’s racist;’ ‘That’s sexist;’ ‘That’s prejudice.’ ... They don’t know what the hell they’re talking about.”

In Berteaux's open letter, he challenged Seinfeld's argument and cited Amy Schumer as a comedian whose jokes about sensitive subjects like rape successfully highlight injustices.

"It isn't so much that college students are too politically correct (whatever your definition of that concept is), it's that comedy in our progressive society today can no longer afford to be crass, or provocative for the sake of being offensive," he wrote. "Sexist humor and racist humor can no longer exist in comedy because these concepts are based on archaic ideals that have perpetrated injustice against minorities in the past."

Wayne Brady

This July, Wayne Brady went on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=LpGgQX9frSY">Aisha Tyler's podcast</a> to discuss his disapproval of Bill Maher's description of President Obama as "<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/09/wayne-brady-ill-gladly-slap-shit-bill-maher-obama_n_1659234.html">Your Wayne Brady</a>," saying he would "Slap the sh*t" out of the comedian.

Donald Trump

In his most recent feud, Donald Trump is suing Bill Maher for $5 million after the comedian joked on "The Tonight Show" that he would give Trump the sum if he proved his father wasn't an ape. Recently on “Fox & Friends," Trump said, "<a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2013/02/donald-trump-to-sue-bill-maher-after-bet-feud-87125.html#ixzz2Jwt52Wjt">He promised me $5 million for charity if I provided certain information</a>. Well, I provided the information. He didn’t pay. So today I sue Bill Maher for $5 million for charity.”

Sarah Palin

Sarah Palin is no stranger to Bill Maher's antics. Many believed, however, that he had taken a joke too far during a stand-up routine in 2011 in which he called her a <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/newcs/politics/bill-maher-calling-sarah-palin-c-totally-limbaugh-calling-sandra-fluke-slut-article-1.1039705">"c---" and a "dumb twat."</a> He later defended his viewpoint when media compared his remarks against Rush Limbaugh's use of the word "slut" when describing Sandra Fluke.

Ann Romney

Bill Maher faced bipartisan criticism this past election season when he not only agreed with Hilary Rosen's statement that Ann Romney, "has never worked a day in her life," but furthered it by saying that Rosen meant to say Romney, "<a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/bill-maher-defends-hilary-rosen-ann-romney-remark-article-1.1061965">has never gotten her a** out of the house to work."</a>

Rush Limbaugh

After Rush Limbaugh faced extreme criticism in regards to his disparaging comments about Sandra Fluke in March 2012, Maher received criticism, from both sides, for his defensive remark stating, "I don't like it that people are made to disappear when they say [...] something you don't like. That's America. Sometimes you're made to feel uncomfortable, okay?" But this comment was clearly not meant to be taken as reconciliatory, as Maher called Limbaugh a <a href="http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2012/03/10/bill-maher-rush-limbaughs-stupid-fat-f-k-who-s-not-funny">"fat f**ck, whose not funny"</a>, immediately after.

Bill Maher Takes On Dinesh D'Souza Over Anti-Obama Documentary 2016

On his show this September, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09i2YvLPZuE">Bill Maher squared off with Dinesh D'Souza</a>, the face of a new anti-Obama documentary. Maher challenged D'Souza's claims that Obama holds anti-colonial, anti-capitalist views that he inherited from his father, argued that the policies Obama has implemented have not been as radical as Republicans have made them out to be, and even confronted D'Souza over the controversial comments that got him fired from ABC ten years ago, which were set off by comments D'Souza made on Politically Incorrect.

Michele Bachmann

In March 2011, Bill Maher joked about Michele Bachmann's attempt to run for president by attacking her intelligence and religious beliefs. Maher was criticized when Marc Maron appeared on his show and discussed sex between Michele Bachmann and her husband, saying, <a href="http://www.mediaite.com/tv/bill-maher-panel-hits-new-low-with-talk-of-hard-fking-michele-bachmann-and-rick-santorum/">"I hope [he] takes all that rage that comes from repression and denial into the bedroom with her…and I hope he f**ks her angrily, because that’s how I would.”</a>

Rick Santorum

In March, 2012 Bill Maher incited a feud with Rick Santorum when his remarks condemning Christian homeschooling hit too close to home for the GOP presidential candidate, who is a firm believer. In response, Santorum said, <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/03/bill-maher-irks-rick-santorum-by-comparing-christian-homeschoolding-to-madrassa/">"Our children will out-reason him. My 12-year-old will out-reason Bill Maher when it comes to understanding how logic works, ’cause [Maher] is completely illogical.”</a>

Christine O'Donnell

In 2010, Maher caused a PR disaster for Delaware Sentate hopeful Christine O'Donnell by saying that she dabbled in witchcraft. Maher later apologized for "making her life hell" and said, "<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/08/christine-o-donnell-bill-maher_n_1867137.html">I don’t agree with your ideas but it shouldn’t have hung on that stupid witch thing</a>," Maher said.

Tina Brown

In Oct. 2012, Maher and <em>Newsweek's</em> editor-in-chief, Tina Brown, got into a twitter battle after the magazine released an issue with the cover "Heaven Is Real."
In Oct. 2012, Maher and Newsweek's editor-in-chief, Tina Brown, got into a twitter battle after the magazine released an issue with the cover "Heaven Is Real."

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.