Danbury, Connecticut has cut the ribbon on the John Oliver Memorial Sewer Plant. It culminates the city’s tongue-in-cheek feud with the comedian.
It started when Oliver seemingly randomly called out Danbury on his show, Last Week Tonight. Mayor Mark Boughton responded by threatening to name the city’s $110 million sewer plant after the comedian:“Why? Because it’s full of *bleep.* Just like you, John.”
Oliver fired back: “Listen. I didn’t know that I wanted my name on your *bleep* factory, but now that you’ve floated it as an option, it is all that I want.”
The city council backed the name change.
“This sense of Danbury pride this has ignited among our residents is a much needed boost during these dreary times. And it’s good to see our community stand together for our city. John Oliver should know that every time I smell the plant, I’ll think of him. So have a good evening, Mr. Oliver!”
And Oliver revealed Sunday he visited the city for the ribbon-cutting. He appeared alongside Mayor Mark Boughton in what appeared to be a homemade Hazmat suit.
“This place takes the worst that humanity can produce and transforms it into something that we can live with. ’Cuz at the end of this awful, awful year, what could be more important than evidence that if we want to, we can come together, overcome our differences, and sort our *bleep* out? Mr. Mayor, I could not be more proud to have my name on your *bleep* sorter.”
Oliver donated $55,000 to local charities to encourage the name change. Danbury officials said thousands more have been raised by local sources.
