John Oliver Pokes Fun at David Ellison's Business Ties

WHO:

Mashable - John Oliver, David Ellison, CEO of Paramount Skydance

Variety - John Oliver, David Ellison, Larry Ellison

WHAT:

Deadline - John Oliver referred to David Ellison as "soon-to-be business daddy" during his segment on "Last Week Tonight."

Deadline - Oliver's commentary included a critique of UnitedHealthcare's denial of insurance claims, providing an example related to the topic.

Mashable - John Oliver mocked David Ellison during a segment on UnitedHealth Group on "Last Week Tonight."

Variety - John Oliver took a swipe at David Ellison and referred to him as having a "business daddy," specifically mentioning Larry Ellison.

WHEN:

Variety - John Oliver returned to "Last Week Tonight" after a monthlong summer break.

WHY:

Variety - John Oliver's segment included a previous mockery of Trump for sacrificing senior staff on a decoy plane during a catering truck escape in Turkey, indicating a pattern of political satire.

HOW:

Variety - John Oliver utilized humor and satire in his HBO series to address business and political figures.

(UPDATED September 21, 2026 23:59 UTC)

In a recent episode of "Last Week Tonight," John Oliver humorously referred to David Ellison as a "soon-to-be business daddy." During the segment, Oliver also took the opportunity to critique UnitedHealthcare's denial of insurance claims, illustrating his point with a relevant example. This commentary has sparked discussions about the challenges many face with insurance providers.

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(UPDATED September 21, 2026 13:59 UTC)

John Oliver made headlines by mocking David Ellison during a recent segment on "Last Week Tonight," where he humorously referred to Ellison as having a "business daddy," specifically mentioning Larry Ellison. This episode marked Oliver's return to the show after a monthlong summer break, continuing his trend of political satire that previously included jabs at Trump. Utilizing humor and satire, Oliver addressed both business and political figures, showcasing his signature style on HBO.