Subway v John Oliver saga — Everything you need to know
There are little late night hosts who can stir up enough heat to come into direct conflict with big corporations. John Oliver however, has become somewhat of an expert.
In recent weeks, Oliver stunned audiences with a near half-an-hour monologue segment on fast food chain, Subway. The host broke down the company’s history, it’s franchise strategy and how it uses advertisement and promotion.
Throughout the segment, Oliver didn’t hold back in his jabs directed at the chain, mocking it’s negative news coverage and excessive amount of stores.
Oliver ended the expose segment, telling viewers: “Lots of the problems you’ve seen tonight exist in some form with almost all franchises. But, Subway in particular seems like the absolute worst. And for years, their store owners have begged them to be less restrictive.”
The HBO host went on to criticise the chain for it’s treatment of franchise owners at it’s locations, revealing harsh tactics used by Subway to silence criticism from it’s franchisees.
Subway responds to John Oliver
Subway were quick to provide an alternate perspective to Oliver’s coverage, making a statement in response to the Last Week Tonight segment.
A spokesperson for Subway told Hearst Connecticut Media that the chain was “concerned” with the coverage: “We are concerned that the misleading characterizations made on Last Week Tonight With John Oliver may have a negative impact on our franchisees – thousands of small business owners whose livelihood is serving guests, everyday in their communities.”
Picture: Getty Images
It’s clear that Subway have taken issue with Oliver’s analysis. Despite this, Oliver’s independent and wide-ranging research proves again how unique his talk show really is. Whilst others may bow to threats of legal action, Last Week Tonight consistently proves to provide honest reporting, holding everything and anything to account.
And, it may come as no surprise that this isn’t the first time Oliver has found himself head to head with big brands and corporations. Oliver’s most notable recent legal clash occurred when it was revealed that coal executive, Bill Murray filed a lawsuit against the HBO host back in 2019.