Twelve years after they infamously squared off over Islam, Ben Affleck is still rejecting invitations to appear on Bill Maher’s talk show.

In 2014, Affleck, 54, and Maher, 70, had a heated debate on Islam with the controversial TV host comparing the religion to the Mafia.

And more than a decade later, Affleck has yet to accept an invitation to return to the show.

On the latest episode of his podcast, Maher reflected that it’s all down to their heated exchange.

‘That’s why he hasn’t done the show since,’ he told comedian Max Amini on the latest episode of his podcast, Club Random.

To this day, Maher is standing firm on his stance, saying: ‘I love him, but we just are gonna disagree on that one.’

‘I don’t know,’ he continued. ‘Maybe if I talked to him privately or it’s been, you know, 12 years, maybe. I think there’s a middle ground.’

Maher believes Affleck has since spoken with author Sam Harris, who also appeared on the show at the time and appalled the actor when he said the Muslim faith was the ‘motherload of bad ideas.’

‘I think he even communicated with Sam Harris after that,’ Maher said. ‘It got exaggerated and it got… for some reason, it got emotional and that’s what people love.

‘More people mention that episode to me than anything. And it wasn’t the best episode we ever had, but it got emotional with a movie star. That’s America.’

When Amini suggested Maher invite Affleck again, the TV host replied: ‘I ask him every year,’ he said. ‘I bought this house from him.’

The Daily Mail has reached out to a representative for Affleck for comment.

In 2014, Affleck, Maher and Harris collided while debating whether large numbers of the Muslim population share the beliefs of jihadists, with Affleck slamming the conversation as ‘gross’ and ‘racist.’

The conversation started with Harris, who was promoting his book Waking Up, by saying: ‘Liberals have failed on the topic of theocracy. They’ll criticize white theocracy, they’ll criticize Christians. They still get agitated over the abortion clinic bombing that happened in 1984.’

‘The crucial point of confusion is that we have been sold this meme of Islamaphobia – where every criticism of the doctrine of Islam gets conflated with bigotry toward Muslims as people. Which is intellectually ridiculous,’ he said.

Affleck responded by saying: ‘Are you the person who understands the officially codified doctrine of Islam?’

‘I’m actually well educated on this subject,’ Harris said.

‘You’re saying that Islamaphobia is not a real thing?’ Affleck said.

‘I’m not denying that certain people are bigoted against Muslims as people, and that’s a problem,’ Harris said.

When Maher asked Affleck why he was being so ‘hostile’ about the topic, Affleck replied: ‘It’s gross, it’s racist.’

When Harris said, ‘Islam is the motherload of bad ideas,’ Affleck was clearly offended.

‘Jesus,’ he replied, leaning back into his chair.

The heated back and forth continued, with Affleck at one point saying: ‘Or how about the more than a billion people who aren’t fanatical, who don’t punish women, who just want to go to school, have some sandwiches… and don’t do any of the things…stereotyping!’