Bill Maher addresses the Cornell 7 case and calls for fraternities to be abolished. Then he shares his view on sororities: ‘Karens of tomorrow’

During the Friday episode of Real Time, Bill Maher turned to the Cornell 7 case involving an alleged incident at a fraternity house. He described the details as sordid and hazy, noting that it is impossible to know exactly what took place. Still, he argued that fraternities should be abolished right away, saying the outcome does not change whether the events amounted to a gang rape or group sex.

Maher contended that all-male environments with no girls allowed simply do not function without leading to depravity. “Any place that’s all male, no girls allowed, just doesn’t function without depravity. Just ask the Catholic Church,” he said. “Ask the Taliban.”

He went on to list ways that negative male traits intensify inside a fraternity. Drinking becomes worse, along with cruelty, the treatment of women, tribalism, peer pressure, one-upmanship, conformity, segregation, nepotism, bullying, elitism, and general a–holery, he said, pointing to boat shoes as one example of the culture.

Maher highlights hypocrisy in gentleman claims and points to hazing fatalities

Maher also criticized what he called the hypocrisy of fraternity culture. Every frat in America likes to say it turns pledges into gentlemen, he stated, yet the Cornell 7 situation shows that claim does not hold up. A young woman made a poor choice, the kind 20-year-olds sometimes make, by going to a frat house while drunk and using ketamine, and she claims that decision cost her in a way no woman should have to endure.

He added that no one present knows what actually occurred. Even so, he said he understands what a true gentleman does in such a moment. “A gentleman-gentleman is someone who in that situation doesn’t exploit the woman, he saves her,” Maher explained.

Mediaite points out that the allegations have drawn national attention over the past few weeks. Jane Doe has claimed she was too inebriated to consent to portions of the group sex and drug use that took place in 2024. The allegations have also raised questions about how campus police handled the matter, as the Jane Doe in the Cornell 7 case says they knew she was assaulted but never took her statement.

Weeks after the events, she texted one of the men involved: “At the end of the day non [sic] of the sexual stuff was illegal and honestly I really liked being with u.” Messages like that one have prompted many people to view the rape claims as unfounded.

Local prosecutors chose not to file charges against the seven men. Last week, New York Governor Kathy Hochul appointed Letitia James as a special prosecutor to examine the case more closely. The case has drawn scrutiny at every stage, as our analysis of how the Cornell Seven case has exposed how misunderstood consent still is shows.

In September, the accuser filed a civil complaint naming the seven male students, Cornell University, and the Chi Phi fraternity. Maher made clear he was not softening his comments simply because he attended Cornell in the 1970s. “Cornell sucks and I f–king hated it and I’m glad to see them eating a sh–sandwich,” he said. He stressed that the real concern extends beyond one campus to the way fraternities operate across the country.

Extreme sexual rituals and intense hazing that have resulted in 128 deaths since 2000 give strong grounds for ending all fraternities, according to Maher. He added that if fraternities are eliminated, sororities should follow. “They’re just b–tch factories producing the Karens of tomorrow,” he said.