Most people would be proud of their name on historic monuments or successful businesses — but John Oliver isn’t most people. He wants the real s–t.
In an ongoing “feud” with the town of Danbury, Connecticut — a town which the “Last Week Tonight” host has described as a “sad, empty void where hope goes to die” — Oliver has challenged their local leaders to prove just how seriously they’re taking his insults, during Sunday’s episode of his show.
And where’s perhaps the most humiliating place to see your name memorialized, according to the British comedian? A sewage treatment plant.
“Congratulations, Mr. Oliver — you now have a poop plant named after you,” said Mayor Mark Boughton on Thursday, after the Danbury council approved an 18-1 resolution, with one abstention.
Along with the new honorific, Oliver also pledged to give $55,000 to Connecticut charities. Piggy-backing on his contributions, local banks have also just launched a community fundraiser for the United Way’s Danbury Food Collaborative, where 100% of proceeds will go to benefit struggling families during the pandemic, according to the News-Times. They reportedly expect to bring in around $100,000.
As a bonus, patrons who give $500 or more will be invited on a guided tour of the new space.
“This was a much-needed laugh,” council member Roberto Alves told the news service. “If John Oliver wants a poop factory named after him, in his own words, ‘cool.’ ”
The city council had received about 100 letters from their constituents in support of the name-change for the recently updated wastewater treatment center, though some council members needed convincing, such as Bob Taborsak, who abstained from the vote and suggested instead the plant be named after “an engineer who designed it.”
But Mayor Boughton wasn’t convinced there may be others vying for the credit.
“I don’t know if an engineer would want a sewer plant named after him,” he said. “John Oliver needs this naming. He wants this sewer plant named after him.”
Meanwhile, Councilman John Esposito, who dissented the majority vote, sniffed at the rank prank from the Emmy winner.
“While I appreciate the humor during a time when we could all use a laugh, I personally don’t find anything funny about insulting our community or least of all threatening violence to our children,” said council member John Esposito, the one who voted against the name.
But even Councilman Esposito couldn’t resist an easy pun.
“Sorry to be a party pooper here,” he added. “That’s just really how I feel.”
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