John Oliver exacts revenge on coal executive Bob Murray in spectacular fashion

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver celebrated a lawsuit victory after exposing the scare tactics in certain legal action.

There was quite the celebration on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver this week. In an episode dedicated to SLAPP lawsuits, or strategic lawsuit against public participation, John Oliver finished the night singing and dancing his way through New York City.

Oliver provided Last Week Tonight fans with an update to a 2017 segment on Bob Murray. Murray is now former chief executive officer of Murray Energy Corporation. Oliver focused on Murray in a 2017 story on a mine collapse which Murray argued was caused by an earthquake and not, as courts later determined, dangerous mining practices.

Murray sued Oliver and HBO for slander and libel. After years of litigation, hundreds of thousands spent on legal fees, and more, Oliver ultimately won the case which was dropped by Murray as his company was in the middle of filing for bankruptcy.

As Oliver outlined last night, the claims made by Murray seemed outrageous or exaggerated. It was clear that Murray was not interested in winning the case but rather discouraging Last Week Tonight or any other entity or individual from speaking out against him.

This brought Oliver to the topic of SLAPP lawsuits. For anyone unfamiliar with the concept, Oliver shows a clip of President Donald Trump who is famous for suing people for libel and slander or at least threatening to do so.

Oliver expertly outlines the dangers of such lawsuits and the need for more states to adopt anti-SLAPP legislation. Oliver then took the chance to celebrate his victory over Bob Murray in an incredible, over-the-top musical number that will likely end up in another lawsuit filed by Murray.

Oliver has the advantage of HBO standing behind him in the face of Murray lawsuit(s). But the point of the comedians piece this week was that so many smaller organizations or individuals don’t have the resources or backing to fight SLAPP lawsuits.

So for that reason, Oliver makes the most out of his celebration. His song and dance through New York City is meant to not only mock Murray once more but also let others sued by the coal executive that they are not alone.

It is another example of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver being more than just a late night comedy show. It is a comedy show first and foremost, which allows it to say (or sing) such ridiculous things about anyone. But the show continues to educate, inform, and advocate unlike any other program on television, let alone late night.