‘Last Week Tonight’ Host John Oliver Sued By Healthcare Exec For Defamation, Says Comments Were ‘Distorted’

Dr. Brian Morley, a physician and former medical director at AmeriHealth Caritas, has initiated a defamation lawsuit against comedian John Oliver. The suit pertains to an April 2024 episode of Max’s Last Week Tonight, during which Oliver criticized Morley’s 2017 testimony regarding Iowa’s Medicaid program. Morley alleges that his statements were taken out of context and manipulated to portray him negatively.

In the episode, Oliver highlighted Morley’s remarks about patient hygiene, expressing outrage and using explicit language to denounce the doctor. Morley contends that these comments were distorted for entertainment purposes, harming his reputation. 

He is seeking $75,000 in compensatory damages, additional punitive damages and a retraction of the statements.

Representatives for Last Week Tonight have firmly denied the lawsuit’s validity, stating their intention to contest it in court vigorously. 

Defamation lawsuits have been on the rise recently, with President Donald Trump initiating several suits against broadcasters and winning out-of-court settlements with several of them, including ABC News.

In 2023, a judge dismissed Trump’s $475 million defamation lawsuit against CNN.

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