Bill Maher has received the outrage of One Direction fans online after comparing the former band member Zayn Malik to a terrorist.
During his Real Time show, the US talkshow host and comedian was discussing Zayn’s exit from the boyband when he likened him to the Boston marathon bomber, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.
During a skit in his show, Maher said: “I think after everything we’ve been through, I at least deserve the common respect of being told face to face [that you’d quit One Direction].
“Just tell me two things Zayn. Which one of the band were you?
“And where were you during the Boston marathon?”
At which point, the screen split to show images of Zane and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev side by side, while Maher suggested they looked similar.
The audience can be heard audibly gasping and then applauding on the video, which has been shared on YouTube.
Fans have set up an online petition calling for the host to apologise for the remarks, which they believe to be racist, and for using an “Islamophobic terrorist joke”.
“Racism should not become normalised especially on NATIONAL TELEVISION,” the petition reads.
Zayn left the group in the middle of the band’s world tour, which resumed without him.
On Twitter, the shocked Zayn Malik faithful showed their support for the singer using the #RespectForZayn hashtag, which is currently trending on the social media site:
How does one see this as a terrorist? #RespectForZayn pic.twitter.com/1Sdwg38Zmi
— tommo the tease (@LOUISTIARAS) April 5, 2015
LOUIS COMING ONLINE TO DESTROY BILL MAHER'S CAREER LIKE #RespectForZayn pic.twitter.com/OdOgtQVjvs
— Layrab ¨̮ (@MissionStyles) April 5, 2015
Zayn is not a terrorist. He is our hero, and saved many of us #RespectForZayn @zaynmalik pic.twitter.com/sxdqEBqxb8
— Till The End ✌️ (@imnotgonnafall) April 5, 2015
