Real estate magnate and The Apprentice star Donald Trump has spiked a $5 million lawsuit he filed against liberal comedian and HBO talk show host Bill Maher, who said in January that he would pay $5 million to charities of Trump's choice if the orange-haired billionaire could prove he wasn’t 'the spawn of his mother having sex with an orangutan.'
The joke, which came on NBC's Tonight Show With Jay Leno, stemmed from Trump's public agitation against Barack Obama during the 2012 presidential campaign. At one point, he offered Obama a $5 million charity payout for the release of his university transcripts and passport records.
Deadline Hollywood first reported April 1 that the lawsuit was withdrawn from a California court on March 29. It was not an April Fool's joke.
But the lawsuit could be revived later, a Trump spokesman said.
In a January appearance on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno, liberal comedian and political talk show host Bill Maher suggested Donald Trump's orange hair could be the result of his mother mating with an orangutan. NBC broadcast this side-by-side image during the broadcast
Trump declared 'victory' in April 2011 after The White House released what it said was Obama's official birth certificate from Hawaii, seemingly putting to rest - legally, at least - right-wing activists' persistent questions about where the president was born and whether he was eligible to live at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Maher told Leno that his offer was meant to determine if Trump's orange hair was a genetic link with the colorful primates.
'I'm not saying it’s true. I hope it's not true,” he said. And he suggested some possible recipients for his millions, including 'The Hair Club for Men? The Institute for Incorrigible Douchebaggery? Whatever charity.'
He also had a snarky response to Trump's often sanctimonious social media presence.
'I certainly only wish the best for the syphilitic monkey who does his Twitter feed,' Maher quipped.
Trump has not tweeted about the withdrawal of his lawsuit.
Bill Maher (L) hosts Real Time With Bill Maher on HBO, and is a consistent thorn in the side of conservatives. He is also a frequent stand-up comedy performer but attracts predominantly liberal audiences. The dueling $5 million dollar offers between Maher and Trump began when Trump offered that sum to charity if President Obama agreed to release his passport records and college transcripts. The real estate mogul had earned a reputation as a 'birther' in the mold of lawyer Orly Taitz (R) after he pressured the White House to release a copy of Obama's long-form birth certificate to prove his eligibility to serve as president
The breach of contract lawsuit, filed in early February, alleged that 'as a consequence of Maher's disregard of his obligations, Mr. Trump has been injured by not receiving payment of the promised sum. In addition, the five worthy charities identified by Mr. Trump have been deprived of millions of dollars in donations, which they have not been able to utilize for the benefit of their constituents.'
At the time, Trump said he 'felt a major obligation' to bring suit 'on behalf of the charities listed, namely Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, American Cancer Society, Hurricane Sandy Victims, March of Dimes, and the Police Athletic League.'
'Bill Maher made an unconditional offer while on The Jay Leno Show and I, without hesitation, accepted his offer and provided him with the appropriate documentation.'
That documentation came in writing the day after the Tonight Show broadcast.
Celebrity Apprentice star Donald Trump attracted scorn when he sued Bill Maher in February, with some observers speculating that it was a publicity stunt to promote his show, which had its season premiere in March
'Attached hereto is a copy of Mr. Trump's birth certificate, demonstrating that he is the son of Fred Trump, not an orangutan,' Trump's lawyer wrote to the HBO host.
A spokesperson for Maher did not respond to a request for comment.
But Michael Cohen, Trump's executive vice president and special counsel, told TMZ that 'the lawsuit was temporarily withdrawn to be amended and refiled at a later date.'
The joke, which came on NBC's Tonight Show With Jay Leno, stemmed from Trump's public agitation against Barack Obama during the 2012 presidential campaign. At one point, he offered Obama a $5 million charity payout for the release of his university transcripts and passport records.
Deadline Hollywood first reported April 1 that the lawsuit was withdrawn from a California court on March 29. It was not an April Fool's joke.
But the lawsuit could be revived later, a Trump spokesman said.
In a January appearance on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno, liberal comedian and political talk show host Bill Maher suggested Donald Trump's orange hair could be the result of his mother mating with an orangutan. NBC broadcast this side-by-side image during the broadcast
Trump declared 'victory' in April 2011 after The White House released what it said was Obama's official birth certificate from Hawaii, seemingly putting to rest - legally, at least - right-wing activists' persistent questions about where the president was born and whether he was eligible to live at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Maher told Leno that his offer was meant to determine if Trump's orange hair was a genetic link with the colorful primates.
'I'm not saying it’s true. I hope it's not true,” he said. And he suggested some possible recipients for his millions, including 'The Hair Club for Men? The Institute for Incorrigible Douchebaggery? Whatever charity.'
He also had a snarky response to Trump's often sanctimonious social media presence.
'I certainly only wish the best for the syphilitic monkey who does his Twitter feed,' Maher quipped.
Trump has not tweeted about the withdrawal of his lawsuit.
Bill Maher (L) hosts Real Time With Bill Maher on HBO, and is a consistent thorn in the side of conservatives. He is also a frequent stand-up comedy performer but attracts predominantly liberal audiences. The dueling $5 million dollar offers between Maher and Trump began when Trump offered that sum to charity if President Obama agreed to release his passport records and college transcripts. The real estate mogul had earned a reputation as a 'birther' in the mold of lawyer Orly Taitz (R) after he pressured the White House to release a copy of Obama's long-form birth certificate to prove his eligibility to serve as president
The breach of contract lawsuit, filed in early February, alleged that 'as a consequence of Maher's disregard of his obligations, Mr. Trump has been injured by not receiving payment of the promised sum. In addition, the five worthy charities identified by Mr. Trump have been deprived of millions of dollars in donations, which they have not been able to utilize for the benefit of their constituents.'
At the time, Trump said he 'felt a major obligation' to bring suit 'on behalf of the charities listed, namely Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, American Cancer Society, Hurricane Sandy Victims, March of Dimes, and the Police Athletic League.'
'Bill Maher made an unconditional offer while on The Jay Leno Show and I, without hesitation, accepted his offer and provided him with the appropriate documentation.'
That documentation came in writing the day after the Tonight Show broadcast.
Celebrity Apprentice star Donald Trump attracted scorn when he sued Bill Maher in February, with some observers speculating that it was a publicity stunt to promote his show, which had its season premiere in March
'Attached hereto is a copy of Mr. Trump's birth certificate, demonstrating that he is the son of Fred Trump, not an orangutan,' Trump's lawyer wrote to the HBO host.
A spokesperson for Maher did not respond to a request for comment.
But Michael Cohen, Trump's executive vice president and special counsel, told TMZ that 'the lawsuit was temporarily withdrawn to be amended and refiled at a later date.'