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Bill Maher On Milo Yiannopoulos’ Fall: ‘You’re Welcome’

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Katie Jerkovich Entertainment Reporter
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Bill Maher took credit for the recent troubles for Milo Yiannopoulos after he defended booking him on his show last week.

During an interview with The New York Times published Wednesday, the 61-year-old talk show host dealt with criticism of booking the former Breitbart editor by claiming it was because of him that “sunlight” brought about his dismissal from the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) and his resignation from the outlet by exposing him to a larger audience. (RELATED: Maher Defends Booking Milo: ‘Liberals Will Continue To Lose Elections’ If They React Like This)

TV personality Bill Maher speaks onstage during the 2013 American Music Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 24, 2013 in Los Angeles

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“What I think people saw [in Yiannopoulos] was an emotionally needy Ann Coulter wannabe, trying to make a buck off of the left’s propensity for outrage,” Maher responded. “And by the end of the weekend, by dinnertime Monday, he’s dropped as a speaker at CPAC. Then he’s dropped by Breitbart, and his book deal falls through.”  (RELATED: Bill Maher’s Message To Hollywood: ‘We’re The Losers Now’)

“As I say, sunlight is the best disinfectant,” he added. “You’re welcome. And by the way, I wasn’t trying to get him removed from society.”

“I’m somebody who, many times, people have tried to make go away,” he continued. “They were successful that one time, for six months in 23 years, because that’s how long it was between the two shows [Real Time and Politically Incorrect]. It just rubs me the wrong way when somebody says, ‘I don’t like what this person is saying — he should go away.'”

Last Thursday, Maher came out in defense of booking the provocateur after journalist Jeremy Scahill backed out of appearing as a guest on the show over Milo’s appearance.

“Liberals will continue to lose elections as long as they follow the example of people like Mr. Scahill whose views veer into fantasy and away from bedrock liberal principles like equality of women, respect for minorities, separation of religion and state and free speech,” Maher wrote.