What did John Oliver say about Monica Lewinsky? 2008 jokes explored as the author thanks Last Week Tonight host for an apology

John Oliver is acknowledging Monica Lewinsky's bravery in showing up on Last Week Tonight back in 2019.

As reported by The Wrap, during the latest episode of Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky, the late-night host got visibly emotional when Lewinsky, notorious for her affair with then-President Bill Clinton, thanked him for inviting her on his show. She noted that it was crucial in her journey towards reclamation, and also allowed a younger audience to get to know her better.

However, he also expressed remorse for having cracked jokes at Lewinsky's expense in the past, noting that they "aged like milk." As per the 2015 report in The Wrap, the comedian once compared Hurricane Katrina to Monica Lewinsky when he said:

“This is arguably a failure of leadership from the top of the federal government … Hurricane Katrina is George Bush’s Monica Lewinsky. The only difference is this: hundreds of thousands of people weren’t stranded in Monica Lewinsky’s vagina.”

John Oliver slams Jay Leno for shaming Monica Lewinsky

During the latest segment with Monica Lewinsky, John Olver expressed thanks to the former for coming onto his show and voicing her side:

“I’m also very, very grateful that you did it, because I know that it was not an easy decision to make,” Oliver said. “As part of that process that you’re clearly going through, a TED talk and a Vanity Fair op-ed is precise, right? And it’s all on your terms. You can get word-for-word, moment-to-moment. You can control all of it.”

He continued:

“So I was extra grateful that you were willing to put yourself in the position where you would be under less control. And I do think it was a massive act of trust on your part. And I am very grateful that you thought we were worthy of that trust, because I know your trust had been broken in the past.”

Acknowledging the lewd jokes he cracked with her being on the butt end of it, Monica Lewinsky said that it brought them closer in the end after Olver apologised:

“I hadn’t heard the jokes, thankfully, but whatever jokes I have heard — when someone takes responsibility and apologizes, you actually end up sort of… it’s not just back to neutral where you were.”

She added:

“It’s more positive because there’s a value.”

Notably, this isn't the first time John Oliver has acknowledged his mistake. In March 2019, as reported by The Cut, he owned up to being a part of the "endless" string of jokes that erupted in the 20 years since the scandal broke out. He said:

“Look, my hands are not clean here, either.”

He added:

“I wasn’t in the U.S. at the time, but ten years after the fact, I was in a Daily Show piece marking the tenth anniversary of the scandal above a graphic reading, ‘10 Sucking Years,’ which is gross. It’s gross.”

John Oliver then slammed his fellow comedians for their takes on the scandal, and in particular, Jay Leno:

“Those jokes have not dated well in any sense of the word.”

“And they’re pretty rough, especially coming from a guy who, just this week complained about late-night TV, saying he’d ‘like to see a bit of civility come back’, you know, like that time when he did a bit with a fake book about Lewinsky called The Slut in the Hat, and if that’s what he means by civility then I offer my new book Oh, the Places You Can Go F–k Yourself, Jay Leno!”

For context, GQ Magazine has reported that in October 2021, Jay Leno slammed Lewinsky with several insults, one of which infamously reads as follows:

"Monica Lewinsky has gained back all the weight she lost last year. I believe that’s the cover story in Newsweek. In fact, she told reporters she was even considering having her jaw wired shut, but then, nah—she didn’t want to give up her s*x life.”

Trending

Stay tuned to Soap Central for more.

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback