Bizarre beef with Connecticut city

Few comedians get immortalised by having a major public site named after them. But John Oliver has achieved that honour… even if slightly dubiously.

For officials in the Connecticut city of Danbury are to name a sewage plant after him, in retaliation for a routine on his HBO show.

Playing publicity stunt-loving Oliver at his own game, Republican mayor Mark Boughton announced the move on his Facebook page, saying: ‘Why? Because it’s full of crap just like you, John.’

The British comic roasted the town, seemingly at a random, during a segment on Last Week Tonight about how juries ended up with a racial bias because the selection process could deliberately overlook whole communities. ‘If you’re going to forget a town in Connecticut,’ he joked, ‘Why not forget Danbury? Because – and this is true fuck Danbury!’

He went on to list a few facts about the city and told all its residents: ‘You’ve got a standing invite to get a thrashing from John Oliver, children included. Fuck you!’

He had also previously mocked Boughton over a video he made as part of a bid to attract an Amazon headquarters. In his video, Boughton asked Alexa where the best place for the facility would be, and the home assistant said Danbury.

Hey @JeffBezos, we want you here in #Danbury! (Alexa, thanks for the help!) pic.twitter.com/4lhbmrqFM9

— Mayor Mark Boughton (@MayorMark) September 14, 2017

Published: 24 Aug 2020