Awesome Award: John Oliver

I interrupt this regularly scheduled programming for another AWESOME AWARD! So far the Awesome Award recipients have all been women, but now, one man has broken through the ranks to prove that he, too, is awesome. Is it called a glass ceiling when it's a man breaking through?

Photo by Steve Jennings for TechCrunch. CC.

Name: John Oliver

Award Title: For the Awesomeness of Being a Powerful Man Who Holds Another Powerful Man Accountable For His Actions

I have loved and admired John Oliver for quite some time. Now it's just through the roof. While hosting a panel discussion for the 20th anniversary of Wag the Dog, our boy Johnny asked Hoffman about the sexual assault allegations that are "hanging in the air" against him. When the Hoff gave very unsatisfying answers that skirt the issue, John Oliver didn't let it pass. He didn't do what most of us do, which is to shrug our shoulders and move on. He points out the problematic thinking in Dustin Hoffman's answers and holds him accountable.

HE HOLDS HIM ACCOUNTABLE!

Here is a video capturing some of this very uncomfortable conversation:

Way to lean into the uncomfortable, John Oliver! You are awesome.

Direct quote: "I can’t leave certain things unaddressed. The easy way is not to bring anything up. Unfortunately that leaves me at home later at night hating myself. 'Why the… didn’t I say something?' No one stands up to powerful men."

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