With both men publicly scolding each other, the surprising feud between comic Bill Burr and America’s Got Talent judge Howie Mandel is intensifying. Burr’s guest appearance on Mandel’s podcast, Howie Mandel Does Stuff, was the beginning of it all. Mandel shocked Burr by introducing Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan during the interview. On the same podcast back in November, Corgan revealed to Mandel that his mother had told him years prior that Burr might be his half-brother.
Burr initially took issue with Corgan sharing the story, but it soon became clear that Mandel had urged Corgan to publicly tell the tale. Corgan was also under the impression that Burr knew he’d be dropping by, but Mandel told the two he “thought it would be a good surprise.” Corgan explained to Burr: “I told him privately that story and [Mandel] said, ‘Oh you’ve got to say this on the air.'” At that point, the comedian turned on Mandel. “You’re an a–hole,” Burr told him, accusing the host of bringing Corgan on for “the f—ing ratings.”
In an interview with The Rich Eisen Show on Wednesday, Burr discussed the controversy. Burr said quite bluntly, “Howie did what he did because he is a Hollywood whore and he doesn’t care what happens,” and he thought Mandel liked “bring[ing] up all that weirdness.” The King of Staten Island star claimed that while he doesn’t mind discussing parts of his private life with the public, he doesn’t have a problem with Corgan. Billy is doing well. I had never met him before, and it was okay or something,” Burr remarked. However, I didn’t value Howie’s actions. Absolutely not.
When Eisen asked Burr if he was “pissed” at Mandel, the comedian responded: “He’s Howie, so he’s sorta hard to hate. How do you hate a germaphobe? He’s like, not threatening. He just walks with his arms in so he doesn’t rub against curtains that he owns…He’s a strange man.”
Mandel, however, was not about to give Burr the last say. The host posted a reaction on his Instagram Stories on Thursday. Mandel posted a photoshopped poster of the Step Brothers movie, set to the Smashing Pumpkins song “Today,” in which the faces of John C. Reilly and Will Ferrell were replaced for Corgan and Burr, respectively. Mandel’s most recent provocation has not yet been answered by Burr.
