Bill Maher returned tonight just one week after he used a racial slur in a joke (which he ended up apologizing for), and he acknowledged, “It was wrong and I own up to that.”

Maher opened his show by briefly acknowledging the controversy by telling the audience, “Thank you for letting a sinner in your midst.” He quickly pivoted to talking about “someone who had a worse week than me, Donald Trump.”

Then he brought on Michael Eric Dyson to have an honest discussion about his use of that word and why it offended so many. Dyson asked him why he apologized for this when he has dismissed apologies from liberals for offending people’s sensibilities in the past.

Maher acknowledged he has said that, but also made the point that he has also said in the past that there are things that people should apologize for. And his use of the n-word last week, he said, was worth apologizing for.

Dyson spoke with Maher at length about the history and weight of that word that still lingers today. Maher made it clear that “it wasn’t said in malice” and talked about the mind of a comedian like his that looks to provoke and occasionally crosses a line.

He even acknowledged that Kathy Griffin crossed a line too recently with her beheaded Trump head photoshoot, though he did also joke that she “owes me a fruit basket for getting her off the front page.”

Watch above, via HBO.

[image via screengrab]

— —

Follow Josh Feldman on Twitter: @feldmaniac

Have a tip we should know? [email protected]