On Friday night, comedian Bill Maher criticized far-left critics who were outraged at a lesbian bar in Massachusetts for deciding to go mask-optional one night a week. Maher addressed the controversy on his HBO show ‘Real Time,’ referencing the viral story about Last Ditch Bar and Arts Venue in Greenfield, Massachusetts.
The Boston Globe highlighted the backlash that ensued after the bar chose to remove its COVID-era mask requirement for Saturdays. Maher commented, ‘Here’s what’s going on at the Last Ditch Bar. It’s a very woke bar, which is fine. Their mission statement [is], ‘For dykes, transsexuals, gender freaks, workers, and friends.’’
He joked about the mission statement, noting how ‘workers and friends’ appeared later in the list. Maher also talked about the bar’s financial struggles, pointing out that despite a cover charge, patrons who couldn’t afford it were allowed in. The Boston Globe reported that the bar welcomed homeless individuals but did not extend the same invitation to the police. Even with mask requirements and cover charges, the economic situation was challenging.
Maher noted that one of the bar’s owners had resorted to living in her truck due to financial difficulties. To mitigate these challenges, Last Ditch decided to make Saturdays mask-optional in a bid to increase business, as reported by the Boston Globe. An Instagram post from August 31 stated, ‘It is with love we inform our immunocompromised disabled divas we will be opening Saturday nights as mask optional.’
The community reaction was intense, as locals attended a meeting on September 11 to voice their grievances. Virtual attendees criticized the decision, and some objected to the presence of a mediator, a white licensed therapist, during the meeting.
Maher took issue with the critics, stating, ‘And of course, the tolerant left did what they always do — became very intolerant and left.’ He also discussed statements reportedly made by critics, including comments indicating severe hatred and threats about firebombing the venue.
NewsBusters Executive Editor Tim Graham remarked on the story’s virality, attributing it to the surprising existence of a mask mandate at a bar in 2026. He noted the perceived hypocrisy in the vehement reaction to a mask-optional night and the financial woes of the bar.
Graham observed, ‘Bill Maher has a tendency to go against the dominant grain and can be savage about left-wing intolerance even though he supported Barack Obama.’ Maher has criticized organized religion and various forms of fundamentalism.