John Oliver mocked David Ellison during Sunday’s episode of Last Week Tonight. The HBO host joked about Ellison’s family wealth while discussing the proposed Paramount Skydance acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, which could eventually put Ellison in charge of HBO.
John Oliver mocks David Ellison over his billionaire father and the HBO “business daddy” joke
Oliver discussed UnitedHealthcare during Sunday’s episode of Last Week Tonight, focusing on healthcare costs and patients who have struggled to obtain necessary treatment. He eventually connected the topic to David Ellison and the proposed Paramount Skydance acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent company of HBO.
Oliver referenced a woman whose parents paid $95,000 out of pocket for her medical treatment after she was denied coverage. He argued that access to wealthy parents should not determine whether someone can receive necessary healthcare.
“But having access to wealthy parents just cannot be the system to get badly needed healthcare,” Oliver said, before adding that it apparently could be the system for becoming his future HBO boss.
Ellison is the CEO of Paramount Skydance and the son of Oracle co-founder and billionaire Larry Ellison. Paramount Skydance has proposed acquiring Warner Bros. Discovery, a transaction that would bring HBO under the company’s ownership if completed. The deal remains subject to ongoing legal proceedings.
Oliver then showed an image of David Ellison with his father.
“Yeah, my soon-to-be business daddy has a literal business daddy,” Oliver joked. “And to be very clear, I deeply respect that.”
He then added, “I would never make fun of you for it, unlike that pesky Stephen Colbert.”
The joke referenced the recent corporate changes surrounding Paramount and CBS, including former The Late Show host Stephen Colbert‘s criticism of the company. Colbert had previously criticized Paramount’s settlement with President Donald Trump before CBS announced that The Late Show would end.
Oliver’s “business daddy” joke therefore played on both Ellison’s family connection and his potential future role within HBO. The comedian has previously joked about the possibility of Ellison becoming his corporate boss as the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery deal moves through the legal process. Ellison currently serves as CEO of Paramount Skydance.
