Blab Entertainment
Wanda Sykes Says Bill Maher Confronted Her Over Golden Globes Joke in Parking Lot
Wanda Sykes told Vulture’s Good One podcast that she was confronted by Bill Maher after she roasted him at the 83rd Golden Globe Awards. The exchange, which took place in a parking lot outside the Beverly Hilton after the January ceremony, began when Maher asked Sykes to explain a joke she delivered on stage.
Sykes, who presented the award for Best Performance in Stand‑Up Comedy on Television, said the joke was aimed at Maher, who was a nominee for his special Bill Maher: Is Anyone Else Seeing This?. "He stopped me out in the parking lot," Sykes recalled. "We were waiting for our cars. He was like, ‘What was that about?’" She added that she responded, "It’s a joke, Bill," and Maher replied that the joke was not funny. Sykes said she tried to defend the humor, noting that the audience had laughed.
The incident was reported by Deadline, AOL, and the Independent, all of which cited Sykes’ account. According to Sykes, Maher continued to push back, saying he was receiving texts from people who were upset by the joke. "He said he was getting a lot of texts and people were saying, ‘What was that?’ and ‘It was a stupid joke,’" Sykes said. She said she responded that she had received many texts praising the joke.
Sykes also said the conversation ended with Maher asking her to appear on his podcast. "I was like, ‘Absolutely not!’" she said.
The joke itself was delivered during the live telecast on CBS and streamed on Paramount+ on January 11, 2026. Sykes’ line, "Bill Maher, you give us so much. But I would love a little less. Just try less," was captured on camera. The audience reaction was mixed; Maher’s smile appeared brief before the joke seemed to land differently.
In addition to the roast, Sykes accepted the Golden Globe on behalf of Ricky Gervais, whose Netflix special Mortality won Best Performance in Stand‑Up Comedy on Television. She dedicated the award to God and the trans community.
Sykes is currently starring in her latest Netflix stand‑up special, Wanda Sykes: Legacy, which premiered on May 19. The special follows her long‑running career as a comedian, writer and actress.
The 83rd Golden Globe Awards, the most recent ceremony, honored films and television productions of 2025. The event was hosted by Nikki Glaser and aired on CBS and Paramount+. The ceremony was held at the Beverly Hilton and was the first time the HFPA’s philanthropic activities were separated from the awards after a restructuring in 2023.
Bill Maher, a long‑time political commentator and host of HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher, has been a frequent target of comedians. His own special, Bill Maher: Is Anyone Else Seeing This?, was nominated for the same category that Sykes presented.
The parking‑lot confrontation has drawn attention from entertainment outlets. Deadline reported that Sykes had also declined to participate in a roast of Kevin Hart, citing her own reasons. The incident illustrates the sometimes tense interactions that can arise when comedians cross lines during award‑show monologues.
At present, no formal statements have been issued by either Sykes or Maher regarding the exchange. The incident remains a point of discussion among comedy fans and industry observers.
Sykes’ account was shared on social media and confirmed by her appearance on the Good One podcast, where she reiterated the details of the encounter. No additional sources have corroborated the story.
The incident highlights the broader conversation about comedic boundaries and audience reception. While Sykes defended her joke as a legitimate comedic critique, Maher’s reaction underscores the sensitivity that can accompany public commentary on fellow performers.
The 83rd Golden Globes concluded with a number of notable moments, including the presentation of the Best Performance in Stand‑Up Comedy on Television award. Sykes’ remarks and the subsequent parking‑lot confrontation have added a new layer to the event’s legacy.
The story remains unresolved, with no public statements from Maher or the HFPA addressing the confrontation. Fans and industry watchers will likely continue to discuss the incident as the comedy community reflects on the limits of on‑stage humor.
Sykes, who presented the award for Best Performance in Stand‑Up Comedy on Television, said the joke was aimed at Maher, who was a nominee for his special Bill Maher: Is Anyone Else Seeing This?. "He stopped me out in the parking lot," Sykes recalled. "We were waiting for our cars. He was like, ‘What was that about?’" She added that she responded, "It’s a joke, Bill," and Maher replied that the joke was not funny. Sykes said she tried to defend the humor, noting that the audience had laughed.
The incident was reported by Deadline, AOL, and the Independent, all of which cited Sykes’ account. According to Sykes, Maher continued to push back, saying he was receiving texts from people who were upset by the joke. "He said he was getting a lot of texts and people were saying, ‘What was that?’ and ‘It was a stupid joke,’" Sykes said. She said she responded that she had received many texts praising the joke.
Sykes also said the conversation ended with Maher asking her to appear on his podcast. "I was like, ‘Absolutely not!’" she said.
The joke itself was delivered during the live telecast on CBS and streamed on Paramount+ on January 11, 2026. Sykes’ line, "Bill Maher, you give us so much. But I would love a little less. Just try less," was captured on camera. The audience reaction was mixed; Maher’s smile appeared brief before the joke seemed to land differently.
In addition to the roast, Sykes accepted the Golden Globe on behalf of Ricky Gervais, whose Netflix special Mortality won Best Performance in Stand‑Up Comedy on Television. She dedicated the award to God and the trans community.
Sykes is currently starring in her latest Netflix stand‑up special, Wanda Sykes: Legacy, which premiered on May 19. The special follows her long‑running career as a comedian, writer and actress.
The 83rd Golden Globe Awards, the most recent ceremony, honored films and television productions of 2025. The event was hosted by Nikki Glaser and aired on CBS and Paramount+. The ceremony was held at the Beverly Hilton and was the first time the HFPA’s philanthropic activities were separated from the awards after a restructuring in 2023.
Bill Maher, a long‑time political commentator and host of HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher, has been a frequent target of comedians. His own special, Bill Maher: Is Anyone Else Seeing This?, was nominated for the same category that Sykes presented.
The parking‑lot confrontation has drawn attention from entertainment outlets. Deadline reported that Sykes had also declined to participate in a roast of Kevin Hart, citing her own reasons. The incident illustrates the sometimes tense interactions that can arise when comedians cross lines during award‑show monologues.
At present, no formal statements have been issued by either Sykes or Maher regarding the exchange. The incident remains a point of discussion among comedy fans and industry observers.
Sykes’ account was shared on social media and confirmed by her appearance on the Good One podcast, where she reiterated the details of the encounter. No additional sources have corroborated the story.
The incident highlights the broader conversation about comedic boundaries and audience reception. While Sykes defended her joke as a legitimate comedic critique, Maher’s reaction underscores the sensitivity that can accompany public commentary on fellow performers.
The 83rd Golden Globes concluded with a number of notable moments, including the presentation of the Best Performance in Stand‑Up Comedy on Television award. Sykes’ remarks and the subsequent parking‑lot confrontation have added a new layer to the event’s legacy.
The story remains unresolved, with no public statements from Maher or the HFPA addressing the confrontation. Fans and industry watchers will likely continue to discuss the incident as the comedy community reflects on the limits of on‑stage humor.
