Actor Bill Affleck got into a heated debate with Bill Maher on the subject of Islam. He was a guest on the show Real Time with Bill Maher and was discussing the religion with author Sam Harris. The three started to disagree about the way Islam was being perceived, with Affleck saying that Maher was being unfair to Muslims. He argued the majority of people in the faith don’t hold the extreme views of jihadists.

Maher, 58, is a comedian involved in political dialogue, and often jokes about religion. He is an atheist and has stirred up controversy with his views of various faiths, including Islam. Affleck, 42, is liberal and has been a guest on his HBO show before. The two often agree on many issues. However, he disagreed with the views Maher and Harris had that Islam was inherently a bad faith and Muslims held extreme beliefs. Affleck asserted, “[Your characterization] is gross. It’s racist. It’s like saying ‘Oh you shifty Jew!”

Michael Steele and Nicolas Kristof were the other panelists and chimed in their views with a more moderate tone. As the debate wore on, Maher and Affleck agreed to disagree as the comedian shifted the focus to other topics. Affleck won an Oscar for his film Argo, about the U.S. hostage crisis in Iran in 1979. Actively involved in politics, he has defended Muslims in the past, calling out racism against Arab Americans.

Real Time with Bill Maher is known for having people with opposing views on for intellectual debates around politics and other relevant topics. The discussions can get heated, and this one on Friday was one example. The ongoing conflicts in the Middle East have led to discussions about the role Islam plays in them. This heated debate got attention and went viral.