{
  "id": 291265,
  "title": "Bill Maher’s Audience Audibly Groans Over Jab About Ariana Grande’s Weight: ‘Maybe That Joke Will Make Her Eat Something’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/bill-mahers-audience-audibly-groans-over-jab-about-ariana-grandes",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-08-08T03:24:12.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "TheWrap",
    "slug": "thewrap",
    "url": "https://www.thewrap.com/creative-content/tv-shows/bill-maher-ariana-grande-weight-joke-studio-audience-groans/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "During a recent episode of \"Real Time With Bill Maher,\" the comedian's audience visibly groaned in reaction to his joke about Ariana Grande's weight. While delivering his monologue on Friday, Maher compared Grande's appearance to that of a \"stick-like\" alien, sparking both amusement and disapproval among the studio audience. The comedian acknowledged initial laughter to the initial comment, but his subsequent remark, \"Maybe that joke will make her eat something,\" caused a audible groan from the crowd. Maher defended the statement, stating, \"I'm saying, maybe it will help,\" before transitioning to another topic. The remark came in the wake of Grande taking a break from public appearances to avoid ongoing scrutiny. The White House had recently released new UFO files, including sightings of triangular crafts, high-speed orbs, and a stick-like figure with large eyes, but Maher referred to this as just Ariana Grande.",
  "summary": "“Please, we kid,” the comedian assures the crowd The post Bill Maher’s Audience Audibly Groans Over Jab About Ariana Grande’s Weight: ‘Maybe That Joke Will Make Her Eat Something’ appeared first on TheWrap .",
  "key_points": [
    "Audience groans at Maher's Ariana Grande weight joke",
    "Maher jokes about Grande being \"stick-like\" alien",
    "Joke causes audible groan, Maher defends statement"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Bill Maher's joke about Ariana Grande's weight, met with audible groans from his audience, suggests that even his own viewers are increasingly uncomfortable with weight-related humor.",
  "illustration": "https://urgent.news/ill/291265.png",
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Deadline",
        "title": "Bill Maher Makes Weight Jokes About Ariana Grande, ‘Real Time’ Audience Groans",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/bill-maher-makes-weight-jokes-about-ariana-grande-real-time-audience",
        "published": "2026-08-08T13:12:03.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Variety",
        "title": "Bill Maher’s Joke About Ariana Grande’s Weight Draws Groans From ‘Real Time’ Audience",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/bill-mahers-joke-about-ariana-grandes-weight-draws-groans-from-real",
        "published": "2026-08-08T17:38:25.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Hollywood Reporter",
        "title": "Bill Maher’s Jab About Ariana Grande’s Weight Leads to ‘Real Time’ Studio Audience Groans",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/09/bill-mahers-jab-about-ariana-grandes-weight-leads-to-real-time-studio",
        "published": "2026-08-09T18:43:42.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}