Maher Praises Pat Tillman Brother Richard’s Rip Against Religion from Funeral

As the actor Richard Tillman – brother of former Army Ranger and former NFL player Pat Tillman – appeared as a guest on HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher on Friday promoting the film "The Tillman Story" about his brother’s death in Afghanistan, host Maher played a clip from Pat Tillman’s funeral in which Richard Tillman mocked the religious references made at the funeral by speakers Maria Shriver and John McCain. Maher went on to praise Richard Tillman as having "a lot of balls" for his words as there was also moderate applause from the audience.

Maher set up the clip: "But, you know, they had Maria Shriver and John McCain... Speaking there, and Maria said, "Pat, you are home. You are safe." And McCain said, "You will see Pat again when a loving God reunites us all with our loved ones."

Then came a clip of Richard Tillman speaking at the funeral while nearly crying: "Thank you for coming. Pat’s a f------ champion and always will be. Just make a mistake, he’d want me to say this. He’s not with God. He’s f------ dead. He’s not religious. So thanks for your thoughts, but he’s f------ dead."

After applause from the audience, Maher responded, "That’s a lot of balls, my friend."

Below is a transcript of the relevant portion of the Friday, September 24, Real Time with Bill Maher on HBO:

BILL MAHER: But, you know, they had Maria Shriver and John McCain who I assume were his two close friends.

RICHARD TILLMAN, BROTHER OF PAT TILLMAN: Oh, yeah. On FaceBook.

MAHER: Right. Speaking there, and Maria said, "Pat, you are home. You are safe." And McCain said, "You will see Pat again when a loving God reunites us all with our loved ones." And then you got up. Show the clip of what you said.

TILLMAN: Thank you for coming. Pat’s a f------ champion and always will be. Just make a mistake, he’d want me to say this.

He’s not with God. He’s f------ dead. He’s not religious. So thanks for your thoughts, but he’s f------ dead.

(AUDIENCE APPLAUSE)

TILLMAN: I actually, I had a-

MAHER: That’s a lot of balls, my friend.

TILLMAN: I had a different poem written, but that just flowed. It just flowed so well.

MAHER: It’s like the beginning of the Hangover Part II.

TILLMAN: Yeah, yeah, exactly, exactly. No I just, I found it offensive, you know, it’s like I don’t go-

MAHER: Right.

TILLMAN: -into a church and say this is bulls----, so don’t come to my brother’s service and tell me that he’s with God. He’s simply not with f------ God.