Jeremy Scahill Won't Do 'Real Time With Bill Maher' Due To Milo Yiannopoulos Invitation

Earlier today, the schedule for guests on this week's Real Time with Bill Maher was released, and it included Breitbart writer and white nationalist/alt-righter Milo Yiannopoulos.

The new shocked many people, given that Yiannopoulos is a symbol for hate and the white nationalist agenda. Nevertheless, it appears that Bill Maher was interested in having him on.

Now, The Intercept reporter Jeremy Scahill announced that he will not appear with Yiannopolous. Although he has been on Maher's program many times, he said he did not want to legitimize Scahill's views:

Today I saw the news that Milo Yiannopoulos is scheduled to be the lead guest on Friday's episode of Real Time with Bill Maher. I was already scheduled to be a panelist on the program that same evening, along with La, Wilmore and Jack Kingston. I have decided that I will not be appearing on the show. Before I explain rny reasons for this, I want to say that I have had the pleasure of working as a correspondent for Real Time and over the years have been a guest or panelist many times. I have total admiration and respect for the producers, writers, and others who work on the show.

Over the past decade, the people at Red Time have become like family toe. I passionately disagree with--and find offensive-- some of Bill's views, particularly when his comments on Islam and Muslims veer into vitriol. At the same time, I have deep respect for Bill and his voice on many other issues and I believe he and his staff have created a vital platforrn for debate and discussion that at times I love and other times loathe. I know I fall into the latter category for some of the show's viewers because I hear from them every time I appear. Whatever one might say about Bill, he always allows guests to challenge him or disagree with him.

But Milo Yiannopoulos is many bridges too far. He has ample venues to spew his hateful diatribes. Them is no value in "debating" him. Appearing on Real Time will provide Yiannopoulos with a large, important platform to openly advocate his racist, anti-immigrant campaign. It will be exploited by Yiannopoulos in an attempt to legitimize his hateful agenda. Yiannopoulos's appearance could also be used to incite violence against immigrants, transgender people, and others at a time when the Trump Administration is already seeking to formalize a war against some of the most vulnerable people in our society. Yiannopoulos has shown he will use his appearances to publicly attack and shame specific ordinary people by name, a practice which could Mad to violence or even death. Real Time, of course, has the right to book whomever it wants on its show, including Yiannopoulos. But I cannot participate in an event that will give a platform to such a person. For these reasons, I have informed the producers of Real Time that I will not appear on the show.

--Jeremy Scahill, journalist.

It is shocking how quickly since Donald Trump's election people like Yiannopolous have been legitimized.

Even though he would have been left in the dustbin of society just a few months ago, he is now considered a legitimate writer with legitimate political views.

He even managed to get a book deal, which goes a long way to making him appear legitimate.

By taking a stand against Yiannopolous, Scahill is showing how he is unwilling to give a platform to racists and hate mongers. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people who are unwilling to take a stand against hate.

Hopefully, the other guests will also refuse to appear on Real Time with Bill Maher.

Wanna read more on this? Check these out: Real Time With Bill Maher: Is Bill Maher A White Nationalist? Sounds Like It (Watch) (more); Jeremy Scahill Proven Right: Bill Maher Helps Yiannopolous Get CPAC Gig (more); Bill Maher Plays Footsie With Milo Yiannopolous While He Spouts Racist Rhetoric (Watch) (more); NSA Insider Makes Shock Claim Re Trump Impeachment: 'He Will Die In Jail' (more).

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