iStockphoto / hapabapa / Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
John Oliver next to a Buc-ee's sign
On the latest episode of Last Week Tonight, host John Oliver has declared war against Buc-ee’s. He announced a line of merchandise featuring a squirrel eerily similar to the Buc-ees beaver, and with the name ‘Buc-Off’ across the clothing and other times.
Why exactly has John Oliver put Buc-ees in his crosshairs? After all, the gas station superstore chain found prominently throughout the Southeast and Texas is loved by millions. Travelers will go out of their way by driving endless numbers of miles to stop at a Buc-ees on the road. So what could they have done to trigger John Oliver? Let’s discuss.
John Oliver versus Buc-ee’s: Who Ya Got?
According to Mr. Oliver, Buc-ee’s has a history of successfully suing other companies that feature animal mascots. He cites “over a dozen lawsuits” against companies and says Buc-ee’s has threatened many more. Oliver also claims that Buc-ee’s has been wildly successful in these lawsuits and “won nearly all of the cases” because the companies being threatened, according to John, typically settle and redesign their logo.
So what’s next? In John Oliver’s own words, he says “we very much have the will to get into a fight with Buc-ee’s. We also happen to already have a rodent mascot on hand, Mr. Nutterbutter, who’s helpfully no stranger to frivolous lawsuits.”
He launched the website Buc-Off.com which features hats, t-shirts, pajamas, cups, beanies, coffee mugs, stickers, an umbrella, and a baby onesie. All of the items have the ‘Buc-Off’ logo on the iconic yellow/red/black color scheme and they have Mr. Nutterbutter on there.
Here’s the kicker, all profits from Buc-Off.com merchandise will go directly toward Hunger Free America, a charity seeking to end hunger in America by connecting people with food and impacting public policy to make food more accessible to all. Surely Buc-ee’s won’t see a problem with that, right?!
If they do, John Oliver says “bring it the f— on.” But says if Buc-ee’s comes after him they will be “directly taking food out of hungry people’s mouths.”
What happens next? Nobody knows yet. Presumably there will be a C&D in the near future. THen we will see how far John Oliver is willing to take his battle against Buc-ee’s.