Iranian-American comedian Max Amini sparks backlash over 'species' remarks on Iranian people
Iranian-American comedian Max Amini has drawn criticism online after describing those fighting the US and Israel as a different "species" with "no sense of morals", while arguing that Washington's war is against Iran's government rather than its people.
Speaking to Bill Maher on an episode of Club Random released on 17 August, Amini sought to distance ordinary Iranians from the country's leadership.
"We are not our government. Those are not our people… because the people that are fighting today against the US and Israel are not the Iranians. They are this species that have no sense of morals," he said.
"I think Trump made it very clear the war is not on the people of Iran, the war is with the government of Iran."
Clips of Amini's comments quickly circulated on social media, prompting angry responses from Iranian and other users who accused the comedian of dehumanising Iranians and providing cover for US and Israeli attacks on the country.
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Max Amini SELLS OUT his fellow Iranians to appease Israel
— Ryan Rozbiani (@RyanRozbiani) August 18, 2026
“They are this species that have no sense of morals”
He is CELEBRATING the Lebanon Pager Attack that killed SO MANY civilians and hurt so many children
BOYCOTT THIS CLOWN, I blocked him pic.twitter.com/69jlRpTIYh
Some called him a "sellout", while others questioned his depiction of a war that has caused extensive civilian casualties.
A comedian who can barely speak Farsi and hasn’t been to Iran for decades is explaining that people who actually live in Iran and defend their country aren’t Iranian!
— sam (@dash_sami) August 17, 2026
while Max ,,,, whose name, behavior and family have nothing to do with Iran is somehow Iranian ‼️
How can they… https://t.co/CH35anoeqM
Maher himself has a long history of making controversial remarks about Islam and Muslims, frequently arguing that Islamic beliefs are incompatible with liberal values.
One of the most widely publicised confrontations came on Real Time in 2014, when Maher and author Sam Harris argued that liberals were reluctant to criticise Islam over issues including women's rights, LGBTQ rights and freedom of expression.
Actor Ben Affleck, who appeared on the programme, accused the pair of making "gross" and "racist" generalisations about Muslims.
Maher has continued to defend his position over the years, portraying his criticism as directed at religious doctrine rather than Muslims as a racial or ethnic group. His comments have nevertheless repeatedly drawn criticism for making sweeping generalisations about Muslims and Muslim-majority societies.
Thousands killed in Iran
The US and Israel launched their joint war on Iran on 28 February, carrying out strikes across the country and triggering Iranian attacks on Israel and US military positions in the region.
Although US President Donald Trump has portrayed the campaign as being directed at Iran's government and military rather than its population, the attacks have caused significant civilian casualties.
The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency said at least 1,407 civilians had been killed by 23 March since the start of the war.
Iranian authorities later said 3,468 people had been killed overall during the fighting that began on 28 February.
Civilian sites have also been repeatedly hit. One of the deadliest incidents was the bombing of the Shajareh Tayyebeh primary school in the southern city of Minab on the opening day of the war.
Middle East Eye reported that at least 175 people, most of them children, were killed in the attack, which has been investigated by both the United Nations and the US military. US investigators reportedly concluded that an American strike was most likely responsible.
Iranian authorities later revised the official death toll from the school attack to 155.
The scale of the civilian toll has therefore complicated claims that the campaign is confined to Iran's leadership and military apparatus, with ordinary Iranians among those killed and wounded in strikes across the country.
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