Bill Maher Slammed For Insulting Stan Lee After His Death

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Bill Maher has caused outrage after insulting the late Stan Lee, insinuating that anyone who likes comicbooks is wasting their time on ‘stupid stuff’.

The legendary writer passed away on Monday (November 12) at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. He was 95 years old.

Stan – the former editor-in-chief, publisher, and chairman of Marvel Comics – helped create the Marvel Universe as we know it, co-creating characters such as Spider-Man, the Hulk, and Thor alongside artists like Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko.

But now Maher has come out and suggested that people are overreacting at Stan’s death, and in the process has played down the writer’s achievements.

The American television host wrote on his blog, Real Time With Bill Maher, that Stan Lee – and comic books in general – are responsible for adults avoiding their responsibilities and instead focusing on ‘stupid stuff’.

He wrote:

The guy who created Spider-Man and the Hulk has died, and America is in mourning. Deep, deep mourning for a man who inspired millions to, I don’t know, watch a movie, I guess.

Someone on Reddit posted, “I’m so incredibly grateful I lived in a world that included Stan Lee.” Personally, I’m grateful I lived in a world that included oxygen and trees, but to each his own.

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He continues to insult comicbooks, questioning when everyone decided that it was acceptable for adults to read them instead of ‘big-boy books without the pictures’ and why people started to pretend that comic books ‘were actually sophisticated literature’.

Ending as he started, he manages to bring politics into the equation and writes:

I don’t think it’s a huge stretch to suggest that Donald Trump could only get elected in a country that thinks comic books are important.

Erm, slightly irrelevant but okay. Whatever floats his boat I guess.

The television host posted his blog today, and since then social media has been ablaze with people defending Stan Lee’s honour and throwing insults at Maher.

One person expressed her views sarcastically, writing:

Bill Maher disrespected Stan Lee? Wow this totally changes my previously high opinion of that smug Islamophobic racist misogynistic attention-whore.

While another wrote:

Comic books taught me how to read. Bill Maher taught me that Bill Maher is an ignorant jerkass. I’m gonna go with comic books on this one.

And other said:

Again w/ Bill Maher being an ignorant f*cking moron who thinks he knows the sh*t he’s talking about. Might as well ban books cause ‘what’s important about them?’ How bold to assume that Comic books are a recent thing & to wait for a man’s death to criticize him. What a coward.

It comes after it was confirmed yesterday that Stan Lee was laid to rest during a small, private ceremony – in keeping with his final wishes.

According to POW! Entertainment’s official statement:

As we all continue to process our feelings of loss at the passing of a true legend, many are asking if there will be a memorial in Stan’s honor.

Stan was always adamant that he did not want a large public funeral, and as such his family has conducted a private closed ceremony in accordance with his final wishes.

Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with them.

Stan is survived by his daughter Joan Celia.

Our thoughts are with the family of Stan Lee at this difficult time.

If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677.

If you have a story you want to tell send it to UNILAD via [email protected].

Lucy Connolly

A Broadcast Journalism Masters graduate who went on to achieve an NCTJ level 3 Diploma in Journalism, Lucy has done stints at ITV, BBC Inside Out and Key 103. While working as a journalist for UNILAD, Lucy has reported on breaking news stories while also writing features about mental health, cervical screening awareness, and Little Mix (who she is unapologetically obsessed with).