Ice Cube to Maher: Using the n-word wasn’t ‘cool’

Rapper and actor Ice Cube got real with former “Real Time” host Bill Maher on his HBO show Friday night, saying the talk show host’s use of the n-word felt “like a knife.”

“It’s a word that has been used against us. It’s like a knife, man,” Ice Cube said. “It’s been used as a weapon against us by white people, and we’re not going to let that happen again.”

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“What made you think it was cool to say that?” Ice Cube asked. Maher has apologized for his use of the word, which happened during last week’s Friday night show during an interview with Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.).

“I just explained, there was no thought put into it,” Maher told Ice Cube. “Comedians, they react. And it was wrong, and I apologized. And more than that I can’t do.”

“I think there’s a lot of guys out there who are too familiar, or they think they too familiar, or there’s guys who you know, maybe had a black girlfriend or two that made them some Kool-Aid now and then, and they think they can cross the line,” Ice Cube said.

Maher’s ex-girlfriend Coco Johnsen hinted in an interview with Vibe on Wednesday that he had used the word around her while they dated.

Maher issued an official apology shortly after the incident, saying “the word was offensive and I regret saying it and am very sorry.” He also apologized on his show Friday night. Ice Cube told Maher, “I accept your apology” to cheers. 

HBO called Maher’s use of the word “completely inexcusable” and has said it won’t air reruns of the episode containing the slur.