People are calling for the firing of Bill Maher, but is this just a joke that has gone too far?

During an interview with US Senator Ben Sasse (R-Nebraska), Bill Maher, the host of Real Time with Bill Maher, referred to himself as a “house n—r.” The conversation went like this:

Adults dress up for Halloween, they don’t do that in Nebraska?” Maher asked.

“It’s frowned upon,” Sasse replied. “We don’t do that quite as much.”

“I gotta get to Nebraska more,” Maher said.

“You’re welcome; we’d love to have you work in the fields with us,” Sasse joked.

“Work in the fields,” Maher scoffed. “Senator, I’m a house nigger.”

The joke created an uncomfortable pause in the audience as some moaned while a few laughed. Maher attempted to clean things up by saying, “It was just a joke.” A few members of the audience clapped.

Several people took to Twitter expressing their disdain for Maher saying he has crossed the line too many times

But on the other hand, Norman Lear, on his podcast, All of the Above, along with comedian Jerrod Carmichael, and Lear’s sidekick on the podcast Paul Hipp, all said the N-word in unison as an exercise to free the power within the word.

Is Lear right, the more we make the word taboo, the more power we give the word? Should Bill Maher be fired as many people are calling for his head?

On HBO's Project Greenlight, Matt Damon tells Black woman Filmmaker diversity and inclusion is only in front of the camera

Did actor/director/producer Matt Damon just step in it or what!

The producers of HBO's Project Greenlight released a clip featuring Matt Damon interrupting a Black filmmaker to school her on diversity.

On Sunday's episode of Project Greenlight -- the show where Damon and Ben Affleck help promising directors get their first break in the film business by getting attached to a project-- the exercise was to choose a director for a comedy in which the only black character happens to be a prostitute. Damon, Ben Affleck, the Farrelly Brothers and Effie Brown, a black filmmaker, who has 17 feature films to her credit including Dear White People, had to make the decision as to who gets to direct the comedy.

Brown thought it was important to have diversity among the filmmakers so the character could be accurately and sensitively portrayed. The finalists consisted of several white guys, an Asian man, and a white woman.

"I would want to urge people to think about—whoever this director is, how they're going to treat the character of Harmony," Brown stated, "the only black character who's a hooker who gets hit by her white pimp."

Damon interrupted her and pooh-poohed, saying diversity should only go so far.

"When we're talking about diversity, you do it in the casting of the film, not in the casting of the show," he said, referring to why he felt Brown's choice of diverse directors wasn't important.

"Hoo. Wow. OK!" Brown responded.

Going by this exchange, it appears that Damon thinks diversity and inclusion are good things to see on the big screen, but it's not really necessary in decision-making roles.

Of course, the Twittersphere is exploding and this one clip just might "break the Internet".

It's only a clip, but what are your thoughts? Is Matt Damon for real, or is this a publicity stunt to get more people to watch Project Greenlight?

HBO is developing a comedy, Bros, from writer Ben Cory Jones (Hand of God) and Hemingway Taylor Productions. The story centers on three African-American brothers — two straight, one gay and all very different — looking for love and happiness in Los Angeles. Bros is based on Hemingway Taylor's 12-minute presentation of Bros.

The project is the first sale for director Anthony Hemingway and his producing partner Mark Taylor's banner, Hemingway Taylor Productions. Hemingway is set to direct and both he and Taylor are expected to executive produce. Also in the mix is Lena Waithe (Dear White People) as co-executive producer.

The move by HBO appears to be part of a bandwagon effect. ABC is seeing major success with Scandal, Black-ish, and How to Get Away with Murder, so HBO and other networks are getting on the diversity train.

Check out the Bros trailer below. Will it be a hit, miss, or needs work?

VIDEO: Trailer for Bros

Hip-hop recording artist Mos Def, along with his “human beatbox” entertain media and others at Def Poetry sound check

What's The 411 attended a media event for Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry, better known as Def Poetry Jam, and captured Mos Def doing a sound check.

Def Poetry Jam, a spoken word poetry television series which is hosted by Mos Def, features many established and up-and-coming poets and spoken word artists.

Just prior to the sound check, What’s The 411 producer Ruth J. Morrison, got an interview with Russell Simmons, who spoke about the value of poetry and spoken word.

Additionally, Uncle Rush was on hand earlier for a photo opp with Alicia Keys and John Legend.

Def Poetry Jam aired on HBO from 2002 through 2007.

Hip-Hop artist Common wows media and others during a sound check for Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry

What's The 411 attended a media event for Def Poetry Jam, and captured spoken word artist, poet, and actor, Common, during a rehearsal/sound check for an episode of Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry, better known as Def Poetry Jam.

Def Poetry Jam, a spoken word poetry television series hosted by Mos Def, featured many established and up-and-coming poets and spoken word artists and aired on HBO from 2002 through 2007. Mos Def completed his sound check earlier.

Just prior to the rehearsal/sound check, Uncle Rush was on hand earlier for a photo opp with Alicia Keys and John Legend.

What’s The 411 producer Ruth J. Morrison, got an exclusive interview with Russell Simmons, who spoke about the value of poetry and spoken word.