Bill Maher to Receive Mark Twain Prize Amid Political Controversy

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Bill Maher to Receive Mark Twain Prize Amid Political Controversy

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Bill Maher to Receive Mark Twain Prize Amid Political Controversy

Credited from: CBSNEWS

Bill Maher awarded the 27th Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.
The honor comes despite the White House previously calling the news "fake."
Ceremony scheduled for June 28 at the Kennedy Center before renovations.

Comedian Bill Maher is set to receive the 27th Mark Twain Prize for American Humor from the Kennedy Center on June 28. The announcement follows earlier confusion, with White House officials labeling reports of the award as “fake news.” The Kennedy Center’s board, closely aligned with President Trump, officially confirmed Maher’s receipt of the honor, which highlights influential figures in comedy, according to CBS News and NPR.

Maher, who has hosted "Real Time with Bill Maher" on HBO since 2003, is known for his critical commentary on both political parties, particularly against Trump himself. Following their dinner at the White House, Maher received harsh critiques from Trump on social media, with the president branding him “a highly overrated LIGHTWEIGHT,” according to Reuters and NPR.

Scheduled for a two-year renovation shortly after the ceremony, the Kennedy Center will highlight Maher’s influence on American discourse. Roma Daravi, the center’s vice president of public relations, emphasized Maher's significant comedic impact over the decades in her statement about the prize, noting, “For nearly three decades, the Mark Twain Prize has celebrated some of the greatest minds in comedy,” according to CBS News and Reuters.