John Oliver really made use of "HBO’s liberal profanity policy" Sunday night on Last Week Tonight, as Slate puts it. The host, who became a new dad just days ago, opened his show with a discussion of the Paris terror attacks, and he did not hold back. "It's hardly been 48 hours, and much is still unknown, but there are a few things we can say for certain," he said. "And this is when it actually helps to be on HBO, where those things can be said without restraint. Because, after the many necessary and appropriate moments of silence, I'd like to offer you a moment of premium cable profanity." Then he let the F-bombs fly:
"First, as of now, we know this attack was carried out by gigantic f---ing assholes," he continued. "Unconscionable flaming assholes, possibly working with other f---ing assholes, definitely working in service of an ideology of pure assholery. Second, and this goes almost without saying, f--- these assholes. f--- them, if I may say, sideways. And third, it is important to remember, nothing about what these assholes are trying to do is going to work. France is going to endure. And I'll tell you why: If you're in a war of culture and lifestyle with France, good f---ing luck." The entire rant is here. (More John Oliver stories.)