BILL Maher has been slammed for refusing to give up his pot-smoking in order to interview daredevil Steve-O.

The Jackass star is 16 years sober from weed, and asked the talk show host to refrain around him.

Besides hosting Real Time on HBO, Bill also has a podcast – with a much looser format.

The 68-year-old welcomes guests of all varieties to Club Random, which he produces personally.

Being the boss also means he gets to set the rules – and the well known pot fan often smokes out while talking with his guests.

A sober Steve-O asked Bill to refrain, just for their interview.

But in an upcoming episode with skater Tony Hawk, Bill expressed no regret over saying no to Steve-O.

“That Steve-O guy was taking shots at me in the press recently,” Maher said on the new episode, out on Monday. “I don’t want to start a feud, and I’m sorry that he felt slighted or something, but it is ridiculous that somebody thinks that I should give up pot smoking because they have a problem. Then I’m sorry you can’t be here.”

Bill pointed out that the podcast is all him, making it his house, his rules.

“I already have another show. It’s called ‘Real Time.’ It’s on HBO and it’s very much not [with] pot,” He continued. “This is different. This is just shooting the s**t, and this is how I shoot the s**t. This is an attempt to get conversation as real as it ever is.”

BASHING BILL

Online, the conversation quickly turned against Bill.

“Bill Maher is an a**,” one person slammed on X, formerly Twitter. “He really can’t be bothered to abstain from weed for a few hours?!

“Take a gummy, don’t belittle someone’s hard earned sobriety. I’m so proud of Steve-O.”

“What a disgusting jerk,” another agreed. “He can’t even put down his pot for an hour for someone clean for 16 years.

“No clue why Maher is even on TV, he’s never been good, interesting, or worth the time. Maher wanted Steve-O on the show then attacked him over a request. Disgusting!”

While a third person smacked, “Bill Maher is, has been, and always will be a low-watt, entitled piece of s**t.

“That he’s had a career this long is an indicator of just how badly we, as a society, have failed.”

STEVE’S SIDE

Steve-O addressed the controversy on his own podcast, sharing his side of the story, and why his request was so important to him.

“I’m a clean and sober guy. It’s very important that I maintain my sobriety, it’s approaching 16 years,” the reality star said. There’s nothing I value more than my sobriety. There’s nothing more that I protect than my recovery.

“I found it kind of upsetting when the Bill Maher podcast reached out and he smokes pot the whole time while he interviews people.

“I said I’d happily go on there, but while I’m on, out of respect for my sobriety, could he refrain from smoking pot. He said no and that’s a dealbreaker.”

MORE ON MAHER

Bill Maher, born in New York City on January 20, 1956, is an American comedian, political commentator and TV host.

He is well known for his HBO talk show, Real Time With Bill Maher, which has been on-the-air since 2003.

He has also hosted the award winning late-night show Politically Incorrect, which aired on Comedy Central and then ABC.

In 2022 he kick-started his podcast Club Random.

Bill steadily rose to fame in the 1980s when he appeared on shows with Johnny Carson and David Letterman.

He frequently commentates on political events on major news networks including CNN and Fox News.