Last Friday night in Paris, a series of coordinated terrorist attacks resulted in the deaths of 129 people and injuries to hundreds more. Over the weekend, Stephen Colbert, Bill Maher and "Saturday Night Live" cast member Cecily Strong all delivered emotional speeches about the horrific attacks. "Last Week Tonight" host, John Oliver added to the chorus, deliveing an impassioned profanity-laced speech at the beginning of his show before he carried on with the episode as planned.
"It's hardly been 48 hours, and much is still unknown, but there are a few things we can say for certain," said Oliver. "And this is when it actually helps to be on HBO, where those things can be said without restraint. Because after the many necessary and appropriate moments of silence, I'd like to offer you a moment of premium-cable profanity."
Oliver then went into a speech about the people who carried out the attacks in Paris and added, "F--k them."
"It is important to remember that nothing about what these a-holes are trying to do is going to work," he said. "France is going to endure."
The former "The Daily Show" correspondent then rattled off a number of reasons why the terrorist group ISIS could never win a cultural war with France, which included "Jean-Paul Sartre, Edith Piaf, fine wine, Gauloises cigarettes, Camus, Camembert, madeleines, macarons, Marcel Proust, and the f----ing croquembouche!"
"To the people of France, our thoughts are truly with you," Oliver said. "I do not doubt there will be more to say on all of this as events unspool."
Following the attacks on Friday, Bill Maher posed a question to his panel of guests that included Dylan Ratigan, Michael Steele and Jay Leno. "Why do they hate us?" Maher asked. The panelists had a tough time answering as they all took a moment to ponder the question.
"I've stumped the panel," Maher quipped.
The group then went on to discuss how America's influence in the Middle East was possibly causing the terror attacks and the motivations behind attacks on Western countries.
"Bombing them over there is what is causing the Paris thing to happen," said Maher. "That connection needs to be made. We don't have to be bombing them there."
"We don't have to be bombing them," Ratigan agreed.
Maher also addressed the Paris attacks at the top of his show by singng a short version of the French national anthem "La Marseillaise," according to the Daily Beast.
"Now I'm not a very good singer," added Maher, "but that's my way of saying: 'We're with you.'"
Colbert was in the middle of filming "The Late Show's" on Friday when news of the attack broke. As taping drew to a close, Colbert had the difficult task of informing his studio audience.
"Folks, we end tonight's show with a heavy heart because we taped all of tonight's show and then we found out about the horrific attacks in Paris today," Colbert told his audience. "I know that not much is known right now. We do know there have been many deaths. The price is still ongoing. President Hollande has declared a state of emergency and President Obama has promised the United States will do whatever it takes to bring those terrorists to justice."
"Saturday Night Live" even started off the Nov. 14 episode a little differently. Instead of airing a skit during the cold open of the show, cast member Cecily Strong sat on a stool and gave a touching tribute to the people and city of Paris.
"Paris is the city of light," Strong said onstage. "And here in New York, we know that light will never go out. Our love and support is with everyone there tonight – we stand with you."
She then repeated the massage in French before adding the show's famous catchphrase, "Live from New York, it's Saturday night," as HNGN previously reported.
