Al Franken cancels second appearance with liberal comedian in as many weeks

Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) canceled a second appearance with a liberal comedian in as many weeks — and both decisions came on the heels of the respective comedians making racially charged or violence inciting "jokes" for which they later apologized.

The Huffington Post reported Monday that Franken canceled his scheduled appearance this week on HBO's "Real Time" with Bill Maher after Maher uttered  a racial slur during an interview with Republican Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.). On last week's episode of "Real Time," Sasse told Maher that he should visit Nebraska to "work in the fields," to which Maher responded, "I'm a house n***er." Maher later apologized for the comment.

"Friday nights are always my worst night of sleep because I’m up reflecting on the things I should or shouldn’t have said on my live show. Last night was a particularly long night as I regret the word I used in the banter of a live moment," Maher said, the Huffington Post reported.

"The word was offensive and I regret saying it and am very sorry," Maher said.

HBO, for its part, said in a statement to People magazine: "Bill Maher’s comment last night was completely inexcusable and tasteless. We are removing his deeply offensive comment from any subsequent airings of the show."

HBO is a property of Turner Broadcasting, which is the parent company of CNN, among other cable broadcast properties.

Despite calling the remark "inexcusable," HBO did not announce any disciplinary action against Maher.

Franken told the Huffington Post on Monday that while he is glad that Maher apologized, he won't be appearing Friday with Maher.

"Sen. Franken believes that what Bill Maher said was inappropriate and offensive, which is why he made the decision not to appear on the next episode of ‘Real Time.' He was glad to see Bill, who the senator considers to be a good friend, apologize and express sincere regret for his comment," a spokesman for Franken said.

It's the second time in as many weeks that Franken has canceled a scheduled appearance with a liberal comedian over inappropriate "jokes."

Last week, Franken initially stood by comedian Kathy Griffin after her photo shoot that included a depiction of President Donald Trump's severed head, but later said "it would be best" if he didn't not appear at a previously scheduled event with Griffin in July to promote his new book, "Al Franken: Giant of the Senate."

Griffin had co-hosted CNN's New Year's Eve coverage with anchor Anderson Cooper for the past 10 years, but the cable network announced last week that it had "terminated our agreement with Kathy Griffin to appear on our New Year’s Eve program."

(H/T: Daily Caller)