Comedian Bill Maher expressed strong criticism of BuzzFeed and HuffPost on his podcast ‘Club Random,’ where he interviewed Byron Allen. Allen recently acquired BuzzFeed and also owns HuffPost.
Maher remarked, ‘All these places have been horrible to me,’ particularly naming HuffPost. He commented on how it became ‘most woke’ after Arianna Huffington’s departure.
Byron Allen, who invested $120 million in BuzzFeed and became its CEO, noted his ownership of HuffPost. BuzzFeed had acquired HuffPost in 2020.
Maher described his issues with HuffPost, saying it had been harsh toward him. He criticized the left’s purity, pointing out the perceived extremeness in their beliefs.
Maher also labeled HuffPost and BuzzFeed as filled with ‘snarky’ millennial nepotism. He questioned the views being represented, stating, ‘they are not America.’
Allen responded that he has been in his role for only a few weeks and does read the publications, indicating a spectrum of content as part of his learning.
Earlier this year, HuffPost was criticized for an article that discussed a sense of discomfort with supporting the USA during the Olympics. The piece addressed the tension between pride in American athletes and dissatisfaction with government actions, such as Trump’s deportation policies and other controversial events.
HuffPost highlighted athletes who voiced criticism of the government, including Olympic skier Hunter Hess. The publication noted athletes’ expressions of discontent amidst national pride.