Robin Williams Calls Pope Benedict A Nazi On HBO

WASHINGTON, D.C. (YBH.ME) – During the premier broadcast tonight of Robin Williams’ new HBO special, the franticly quick-witted comic referred to Pope Benedict XVI as a Nazi. The show, entitled “Weapons of Self Destruction,” was filmed in Washington, D.C. in November.

Williams: Pope = Nazi

The remark came at around the 1:12 mark of the ninety minute performance. Mr. Williams was doing a bit about the selection of a new Pope after Pope John Paul II died in 2005 and flatly referred to the current Pope as a Nazi. Mr. Williams went on to talk about pedophilia within the church and likened the Pope’s wardrobe to that of late Queen singer Freddie Mercury.

Catholic leadership will most likely have a thing or two to say about Mr. Williams’ remarks if the comment is picked up by large swaths of the media.

Mr. Williams’ HBO special, his fifth for the cable network, is his first after recovering from open heart surgery. During the performance, Mr. Williams also took on Joe Biden, Sarah Palin and George W. Bush.

John Romano is the publisher and editor of Yes, But However!, a musician, a former political correspondent for BBC Radio London, and a serial web entrepreneur. Follow him on twitter: twitter.com/yesbuthowever or John Romano on Google+

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Post Published: 07 December 2009
Found in section: Sports and Entertainment

Mike1949
Robin Williams can be extremely funny and witty, but his show was so laced with f-words and bathroom humor, I winced more than laughed. I remember my parents telling me years ago that when comedians resort to the f-word and bodily functions as the source of humor, they've lost it. I've always thought that Williams could pick out the irony in a subject — e.g. a pope who was a former soldier, a former drug using president — but a 58 year old guy doesn't need to say "f—" ten times in a sentence to appeal to laughter or convince a younger audience that he's cool.

STG
I totally agree with your critique of Robin's performance. I did not find much humor or satire in this performance, just a lot of sexual trash talk. Really sad for a potentially great comedian.

Linda
I agree with Mike (above). I tuned in about 5 minutes into his special where he discussed his private parts and left about 5 seconds later. If he reportedly discussed health care, politics and cash an clunkers as advertised, I never heard it. He's a funny man without using this type of humor. I understand this was fairly late at night and on HBO, but ick.
Addison
Uh, when did Robin Williams NOT use potty humor and curse words in his stand up? It's been part of his shtick in everything I've seen him in, so that comes as no surprise.
Jack
In the early episodes of "Mork and Mindy," Williams was funny. Ever since then, he has been on a downward slide. And he is a liar. The current sex scandal in the Catholic Church is not one of pedophilia, but of homosexualism, as the ages of the male victims are far beyond pre-puberty. And the pope is not a Nazi. He was forced into service with the German military, and he deserted, for which he could have been shot if the Nazis had found him. The Americans found him, and he was a prisoner of war for the duration.

paul
Jack…… u dont know "J" Sh-t….. I was a "Mic" Once, and my Nephews and Nieces were placed in "the care" in "Brotherhodd of St Laurance" orphanages, and were all abuse by "poofters and leso's" of "the cloth" (all under the age of puberty) it is was, is, and always will be, about "the TRUTH" which is…. CHILD SEX ABUSE = PEDOPHILLIA and PERVERTED SEX = HOMOSEXUALISM both art an "abomination" according to "The Word of God" which these "sick predators" claim to profess. As far as the pope being a "Nazi" is concerned, just let the Leader of The "Holy Roman Empire" show his true colours in Due Course, then History will Speak for Itself!!! Until then keep your trap shut until you know what you are talking about!!! By the way, this does not mean that I support Mr. Williams either, you just hit a raw personal, nerve.
Lloyd
Pope Benedict is a closet nazi. He wants to beatify Pius the 12th who by proxy through Bishop Alois Hudal help many of the 60,000 nazis who escaped to Argentina through the so called rat line. Recentley Pope Benedict had an audience with the Croatian musitian Marko Perkovic who glorified a ww2 croatian concentration camp where an estimated 3/4 of a million non-catholics were murdered. The Ustase Hitler ally Ante Pavelic said 1/3 will convert, 1/3 will be killed and 1/3 will leave. By the way regardless of any current controversy about homosexuality/pedophilia in the priesthood the Vatican has a long history of cover up. The catholic church also hid the relationship of priests and nuns. I do not see a problem with that other than the fact that it sometimes involves killing infants resulting from the relationships. The finding of infants in church walls is grim testiment. No Jack, Robin Williams is not a liar. You are.

Sam
He's funny, it's all in humor for heaven's sake….It's just one way of looking @ things….I KNOW the Pope's not a Nazi. It's called comedy people!
connie dobbs
How is this news? The pope's been a Nazi for years. The past pope was a nazi, too. In fact, Pope Adolf Hitler was the leader of the Nazis!
Ha just kidding, he's not really a Nazi. He's a fascist. big difference.

Marcella Aikel
Do you have any criticism of Muslims? Oh wait, they might fight back. So let's pick on the Christians.

http://clintjcl.wordpress.com ClintJCL
Both groups are idiots. (You sound like one too, but I might be wrong.)

EricT
Well, perhaps Mr. Williams should have another heart surgery…

Chilleem
DUUUH Hello Idiot criticizing the non criticisms of Muslims?? Take your hood off and grow up you Racist! Robin Williams may not be that funny and crude, but I suggest you take a course and learn about Judaic, Christian, Islamic history!

http://intensedebate.com/people/sandyjo53 sandyjo53
You know this stuff might of been funny years ago but it is getting old now,I swear these liberals get more mental with age.
They haven't been able to make a good movie for years and their attempt at comedy is getting sad and disgusting with the language,sorry it's just not funny anymore, they need to go into retirement with some grace.

owen
all due respect but hes a comedian that is all how can people get so wrapped up in comedy jesus when people bring something up that is serious and den make it funny people go nutts jesus just enjoy if u dont like da act dont watch it

sandyjo53
<DIV>OMG this comment is so old where did you drag it up, I even forgot I commented on this or maybe I didn't comment on this, but I will now.</DIV> <DIV>Yea you are right they are comedians but I some how think if they made these kinds of remarks about muslims or Obama you would not think it was so funny, I don't watch I gave up on these so called comedians a long time ago and will not waste my time.—

truth
Pope John Paul was a cyanide salesman in Germany. Who used cyanide around that time? You got it Nazi's. And of course Benedict says he deserted, wouldnt you. Both Nazi's.
http://www.brookestatestheobvious.blogspot.com brooke
I loved Live on Broadway and often quoted it over the years. I was really disappointed when I heard the same phrases and sexual references in his new HBO special "weapons of self destruction." I've been a fan of Robin Williams for years, but the swears are so frequent that they become more of a bother than anything. If I hadn't seen Live on Broadway, I would have thought this was hilarious, but because I've been a fan for so long, I see how redundent a lot of his jokes are getting.
Brian
You gotta agree that Robin Williams performance in this HBO Special was absolutely garbage. He sounded like one of those 3rd or 4th rated comics on the Yuk Yuk's comedy circuit, who think that bodily functions and the F word are funny. He used to be good. I used to look forward to seeing him do his shtick, which was usually brilliant, off the cuff and amazing. I thought about going to see him at Casino Rama, but there's no way I would walk across the street to see him
Charlene
Does anyone have a sense of humor here?
I am a vetren fan of Robin Williams and I still think he is hilarious! I saw "Weapons of Self Destruction" at Massey Hall and he was just hilarious!!!
One of the reasons I like him is that he does and says things I couldn't do.
Sam
Like Brooke above, I also thought this performance (the Washington one that made the HBO special) was MILES away from 'Live On Broadway', which I absolutely love and have watched multiple times on DVD.
As far as recycling lines/jokes – comedians have a tendency to do that. Most of their talk show appearance quips and bits, especially lengthy ones are "material". This seems to be the case especially with Williams, whose talk show appearance craziness (you know what I'm talking about) is FAR from the spontaneous "comedic tourettes" he claims it is – it's very well "scripted", actually. I know this, because I saw his guest appearance on the UK talk show "Parkinson", which was after 'Live On Broadway. He was doing a lot of the bits from that show, and then in the end claimed that it was all spontaneous.
That said – I'm still a fan of his. Plus he seems to be in great physical shape, kudos.
I have to comment on Linda's opinion above though – when people don't watch the entire thing they're commenting on, or only watch "like 5 minutes" – I'm sorry but your opinion is worthless.
Dan
Did Wobin say some bad words?

Robin Williams Calls Pope Benedict A Nazi On HBO

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