UPDATE: Bill Maher is defending booking right-wing provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos.
He has ample venues to spew his hateful diatribes, Scahill wrote (full statement below).
There is no value in debating him.
Credit: Darragh Field / Barcroft Images / Barcroft Media via Getty Images
Appearing onReal Timewill provide Yiannopoulos with a large, important platform to openly advocate his racist, anti-immigrant campaign.
I cannot participate in an event that will give a platform to such a person.
On Fridays episode ofReal Time, Yiannopoulos is booked as the top-of-show interview.
President Trump laterslammedthe decision on Twitter.
Last year Yiannopoulos was banned from Twitter after taking part in harassing messages targetingGhostbustersstar Leslie Jones.
HBO had no immediate comment.
After this piece was published,Real Timebooked MSNBC terrorism analyst Malcolm Nance as a replacement for Scahill.
Heres Scahills full statement:
