Bill Maher Criticizes BuzzFeed and HuffPost as ‘Peak Woke’ on Podcast

On his podcast “Club Random,” comedian Bill Maher criticized BuzzFeed and HuffPost, describing them as “peak woke.” During an interview with Byron Allen, who owns these publications, Maher expressed his dissatisfaction with their editorial stance.

Byron Allen, the new CEO of BuzzFeed, mentioned his recent acquisition of the company, highlighting his ownership of HuffPost as well. Maher responded by sharing his negative experiences with HuffPost over the years. He singled out the publication’s shift after Arianna Huffington’s departure, noting its adoption of what he sees as extreme woke ideology.

Variety reported in May that Allen invested $120 million into BuzzFeed. HuffPost became part of BuzzFeed in 2020. Despite this, Maher noted the harsh treatment he received from HuffPost.

That’s what I hate about the left. The purity. And that’s what HuffPost [represents].

Maher criticized the perceived purity tests of the publication, arguing that some of the ideas promoted are misguided and lack historical or factual grounding.

Furthermore, Maher emphasized that the culture at both BuzzFeed and HuffPost is dominated by a younger generation, which he claims is disconnected from mainstream America. He referred to them as “snarky millennial nepo babies,” voicing skepticism about their expertise and perspective.

Allen, who had only been involved with the companies for a few weeks, acknowledged reading the publications. He referenced advice from Al Masini, creator of “Entertainment Tonight,” about staying focused on the broader spectrum rather than being swayed by particular viewpoints.

Earlier this year, HuffPost faced criticism for an article that discussed discomfort with supporting the U.S. during the Olympics. The piece drew attention to the contrast between national pride at the Olympics and domestic policies that were criticized under President Donald Trump.

Highlighting this tension, Olympic skier Hunter Hess expressed his ambivalence about representing the U.S., emphasizing that wearing the flag does not imply endorsement of all national events and policies.

Hanna Panreck serves as an associate editor at Fox News.