John Oliver took aim at Mel Gibson during Sunday’s episode of Last Week Tonight, responding to news that a Justice Department attorney, Liz Oyer, was dismissed after opposing the restoration of Gibson’s gun rights. Oyer, who previously served as a U.S. pardon attorney, wrote an opinion column for Rolling Stone, stating she was fired just hours after refusing to support Gibson’s request.
“No one has told me why I was fired,” Oyer wrote. “But the notice was delivered hours after I declined to recommend reinstating the gun rights of a famous friend of the president, the actor Mel Gibson, who has a history of violence against women.”
Oliver addressed the situation, stating that Oyer was dismissed for questioning whether Gibson, “best known for his work in screaming,” should have access to firearms. He pointed viewers toward Gibson’s Wikipedia page, referencing details on his controversies. He also read from the entry about Gibson’s father, Hutton Peter Gibson, who was described as a conspiracy theorist and Holocaust denier.
“That is a fascinating man,” Oliver said. “And imagine having so many terrible views that producing Mel Gibson is not the worst thing about you.”
Oliver connected the discussion to broader political concerns, mentioning recent events involving antisemitism and free speech. He criticized the firing, calling it a “f—ing disgrace,” and stressed the importance of defending rights, warning that if they are not protected, they “could be going, going, gone.”
