‘Don’t be an a******’: Byron Donalds talks Super Bowl end zones with Bill Maher

Donalds AP photo
The lawmaker also expressed concern over a State Department appointee.

A Florida Congressman went into ideologically adverse territory Friday with talk show host Bill Maher. And he used language one wouldn’t expect from the Sunday talk shows.

Among the discussion points on “Real Time” was the removal of the “End Racism” messages from end zones at the National Football League’s showcase game Sunday.

“I think if you write ‘Don’t be an a******’ in an end zone, everybody will agree with that,” Rep. Byron Donalds said, using an earthy scatological expression for the human anus after Maher and co-panelist Tara Palmeri embraced similar language.

It remains to be seen if the NFL will embrace that suggestion.

Donalds also broke with President Donald Trump on a State Department appointee who previously expressed controversial viewpoints on race: Darren Beattie.

The Congressman said he was “very concerned” about the pick when presented with a Beattie tweet saying “competent White men must be in charge if you want things to work.”

For his part, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has addressed the controversy, noting that Beattie’s role would be “ending the censorship programs that were being operated out of the State Department, which can no longer continue and will no longer continue.”

A.G. Gancarski

A.G. Gancarski has been the Northeast Florida correspondent for Florida Politics since 2014. His work also can be seen in the Washington Post, the New York Post, the Washington Times, and National Review, among other publications. He can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter: @AGGancarski


9 comments

  • MH/Duuuval

    February 8, 2025 at 9:06 am

    Byron about to run afoul of Trump’s co-president.

  • Earl Pitts "Political Genuis" American

    February 8, 2025 at 10:38 am

    Good Morn ‘Ting America,
    These type of “Raicest Attack Articals” against America’s beloved African American citizens are on the increase from “Dook 4 Brains Leftys” who hate our Beloved Black citizens for escapeing from The Democratic Plantation and electing Donald Trump.
    I, Earl Pitts “Political Genuis” American, am working with our Attorney General, Pam Bondy, to provide legal assistance to our Beloved Black Citizens, and to issue guidance for anyone, such as Bryon Donalds, who is attacked by these disgustimg “Leftist Hate Crimes”.
    Hang in there Bryon, and rest assured that “PAM & EARL” got your back.
    The above Truth, Justice, and the American Way “COMMON SENSE WISDOM” has been brought to you by, Earl Pitts “Political Genuis” American

  • Rando Commenter "Not Earl" American

    February 8, 2025 at 10:47 am

    Thank you Mr. Pitts and Ms. Bondy, for bringing these Leftist Hate Crimes against Black Americans to our National Attention. The Democrats, as we all know, were the origional slave owners here in The USA and as we see, “The Apple Does Not Fall Far From The Tree”.
    Thanks again Mr. Pitts,
    Rando Commenter

    • Skeptic

      February 8, 2025 at 11:56 am

      Thanks for your historical insights. As I am sure you know, the Southern Democrats (slave owners) abandoned the party under LBJ because he fought for the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act. Now these people have taken over and made a mockery of the party of Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt. If the apple hits your head, common sense may leak out.

      • Earl Pitts "Political Genuis" American

        February 8, 2025 at 12:41 pm

        Thank you, Sage Patriot “Skeptic”,
        For agreeing with me, Earl Pitts “Political Genuis” American, that these Raciest Democrats are totally out of line and need to be “Brought To Heel”.
        I, Earl Pitts “Political Genuis” American, will be delagating some important assignments to you in the future my new Besty “Skeptic”.
        Thank you again, Sage Patriot “Skeptic”,
        Yours Truley,
        Earl Pitts “Political Genuis” American

      • MH/Duuuval

        February 9, 2025 at 4:44 pm

        MAGAs overestimate the value of their own because they so often go over the top rhetorically.

        Another purveyor of this item of bad history is Dinesh D’Souza, a Neo-con author and filmmaker.

  • Andrew

    February 8, 2025 at 9:41 pm

    Can’t say that i ever noticed the “end racism” thing in the end zones. Probably the 18 or 20 people that have really cared, and that’s it because about 99.99% of the people watching a football game are doing just that — watching the game. They are not interested in “politically correct nonsense slogans” or much of anything else other that what the two teams are doing. This is a great big “who cares” for sure !!!!!!

  • just sayin

    February 10, 2025 at 7:13 am

    I’m just so thankful for the breast cancer ads. All my life I’ve been pro-breast cancer. Those ads really made me reconsider. Powerful & brave.

  • KathrynA

    February 11, 2025 at 3:03 pm

    Sad all these companies and the NFL have caved into the MAGA hate–after all, the vast majority of their players are Black. And racism seems to be alive and well once again. So sad! Let’s try for kindness and respect for others!

Comments are closed.


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