Bill Maher has revealed that Ben Affleck has repeatedly turned down invitations to return to his HBO show "Real Time" since their heated 2014 clash over Islam and Muslim stereotypes. Maher said on Monday that he extends an invitation to Affleck every year, but the actor and filmmaker has consistently declined, more than a decade after their on-air confrontation.

The original 2014 exchange saw Affleck accuse Maher of making "gross" and "racist" generalisations about Muslims during a debate that also involved the writer and commentator Sam Harris, and the segment went on to attract widespread attention at the time. Maher's latest comments confirm that the rift between the pair has never really healed, with Affleck seemingly unwilling to revisit the subject on Maher's programme despite the host's repeated attempts to bring him back.