John Oliver blasts Harvey Weinstein: "Your excuse isn't an excuse"

John Oliver on Sunday night became the first late-night host to address the allegations of sexual harassment aimed at Harvey Weinstein in a New York Times report that was published last week.

On Sunday night's edition of HBO's Last Week Tonight, Oliver noted that this week marked the one-year anniversary of the leaked AccessHollywood tape in which then presidential candidate Donald Trump made his infamous "Grab them by the pussy" remarks about women.

He used that as a segue to the Weinstein scandal which on Sunday cost the film mogul his job when the Weinstein Company board of directors decided to terminate him.

RELATED: Harvey Weinstein in recent years

In response to the explosive New York Times expose, which accused Weinstein of decades of sexual harassment and questionable behavior toward women, the Times released a bizarre statement from Weinstein that read, in part: "I came of age in the '60s and '70s, when all the rules about behavior and workplaces were different. That was the culture then. I have since learned it's not an excuse, in the office — or out of it. To anyone."

Read more: Harvey Weinstein Cites Jay-Z, NRA in Bizarre Statement After N.Y. Times Exposé

"Yeah, you're right — your excuse isn't an excuse," Oliver said. "In fact, it isn't even an excuse for that behavior in the ’60s! ‘Well back then, we had no idea that women didn’t want to be forced to look at dicks. That wasn't discovered by scientists until 1988. It was a different time.'"

Oliver noted that Weinstein's "response was infuriating because he and his attorneys admitted he needs help while also denying the charges and threatening to sue The Times."

Oliver then mentioned the allegations of TV news reporter Lauren Sivan, who last week told HuffPost about an incident a decade ago in which Weinstein masturbated in front of her in a hallway at the Cafe Socialista restaurant in New York, ejaculating into a potted plant.

Oliver's response: "Step aside Chocolat, you are no longer the most horrifying picture that Harvey Weinstein has ever produced."

Read more: Harvey Weinstein Terminated From Weinstein Company

Advertisement