John Oliver Says He's 'Not A Respected Journalist'

By Emily Cutler | Celebrity | May 13, 2015 |

By Emily Cutler | Celebrity | May 13, 2015 |

This shouldn’t come as a surprise, but John Oliver is having a hell of a year. Since his show debuted in late April of last year, Oliver has saved the internet, interviewed Edward Snowden about a photo of Oliver’s penis, won a Peabody, and just been named one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People. But not everyone is happy about all that. Namely, John Oliver.

During an interview with fellow Influential Person Jorge Ramos not only does Oliver shrug off being one of the most influential people in the world, (“It’s pretty bad news for the world”) he flat out rejects the idea that what he and his show are doing is journalism.

I’m not a respected journalist because I’m not a journalist … I’m a comedian. I’m doing the job of a comedian. So I make jokes about the news.

And the fact that he is a credible source for news in the U.S.?

That is more of an insult to the state of journalism than is it a compliment to the state of comedy.

Ordinarily my cynical side would want to accuse him of false humility, but once he starts talking about Jon Stewart, it’s pretty clear how grounded in gratitude his feelings really are.

Jon Stewart taught me how to do everything … It’s pretty much an objective fact. I owe him everything.

You might want to pump the brakes, Oliver. Your next big award aka The Pajiba Ten doesn’t roll around for another couple of months. Don’t use up all your charm before then.

Source: Fusion