John Oliver Slams David Ellison
The 'Last Week Tonight' host took a swipe at the Paramount Skydance CEO and his 'business daddy' Larry Ellison, referencing the $110.9 billion Warner Bros. Discovery deal
John Oliver returned to his HBO series 'Last Week Tonight' after a monthlong summer break, and wasted no time in taking aim at David Ellison, the CEO of Paramount Skydance, and his father Larry Ellison. The target of Oliver's joke was the potential acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent company of HBO, by Paramount Skydance in a deal worth $110.9 billion.
David Ellison is the CEO of Paramount Skydance, which is currently in the process of acquiring Warner Bros. Discovery. His father, Larry Ellison, is the billionaire owner of tech giant Oracle and has agreed to personally backstop the $40.4 billion in equity financing connected to the deal.
Oliver's joke came during a segment on UnitedHealthcare's history of denying health claims, including the case of a cancer patient whose parents had to pay $95,000 out-of-pocket for her treatment after the company denied their claims. Oliver quipped that having access to wealthy parents should not be the system for getting healthcare, 'even if it is apparently the system that lets you be in charge of HBO'.
The comedian then showed a photo of David and Larry Ellison, saying 'my soon-to-be business daddy has a literal business daddy'. Oliver recently renewed his 'Last Week Tonight' contract through 2027, ahead of the potential acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery by Paramount Skydance.
## Why it matters The deal between Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery is significant, with a price tag of $110.9 billion. If the acquisition goes through, it will have major implications for the media landscape, including the future of HBO and its shows, such as 'Last Week Tonight'. John Oliver's joke about David Ellison and his 'business daddy' Larry Ellison highlights the complex web of relationships and interests involved in the deal.
The fact that Larry Ellison has agreed to personally backstop the $40.4 billion in equity financing connected to the deal underscores the significant financial stakes involved. As the host of 'Last Week Tonight', John Oliver's contract renewal through 2027 suggests that he will continue to have a platform to comment on the deal and its implications for the media industry.
