Nick Offerman Blasts Ben Shapiro’s ‘Rampant Homophobia’ Over ‘The Last Of Us’

Nick Offerman is not holding back when it comes to conservative commentator Ben Shapiro’s intense dislike of HBO’s *The Last of Us*. The actor recently confronted Shapiro’s infamous online meltdown over the series, calling out the political personality for factual errors and plain bias. During an appearance on the podcast *Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso*, the host played a video clip of Shapiro laying into the hit post-apocalyptic drama. In the recording, Shapiro appeared confused by Offerman’s presence in the series, repeatedly referring to his character as "Ron Swanson"—the beloved deadpan libertarian Offerman played for years on *Parks and Recreation*—before mocking the character's gay romance.

What Did Nick Offerman Say About Ben Shapiro?

Hearing the audio left the Emmy winner visibly stunned. Offerman laughed off the commentary while pointing out just how inaccurate Shapiro’s breakdown actually was. The actor noted that beyond the underlying bigotry, Shapiro managed to butcher basic plot points throughout his brief review. Offerman blasted the right-wing host's lack of reading comprehension, joking that Shapiro got roughly eight details completely wrong during his recap. He described the clip as the ultimate display of Shapiro’s signature style, labeling the reaction as completely bizarre and full of rampant homophobia. Although the podcast marked the first time Offerman actually watched Shapiro deliver the rant on camera, he was already well aware of the conservative pundit's written thoughts on the show. Offerman revealed that he previously incorporated Shapiro’s negative reviews directly into his live comedy music tour, turning the political outrage into setup lines for his satirical songs on stage.

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Why Did Nick Offerman Win An Emmy For The Last Of Us?

The controversy stems from the third episode of HBO's video game adaptation, titled "Long, Long Time." The standalone installment focused on a decades-long love story between survivalist Bill, played by Offerman, and his partner Frank, portrayed by Murray Bartlett. The episode won widespread acclaim from television critics and audiences worldwide for its tender portrayal of romance during a global collapse. Offerman went on to win the 2023 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for his performance in the episode. While certain right-wing commentators attempted to kick up culture-war drama around the storyline, the episode remains widely cited as one of the standout chapters in modern television history.