John Oliver Forgives $15M in Debt

[Dr. Vegetable]

NEW YORK (AP) — Some 9,000 people stuck with delinquent medical bills had their debts forgiven courtesy of HBO host John Oliver.

Oliver, on his "Last Week Tonight" program Sunday, took the action to illustrate a story about the practices of companies that purchase the records of debtors and attempt to collect on them. The show set up its own company to acquire $15 million worth of debt owed to hospitals in Texas, paying $60,000.

Oliver added a little show-biz flair, pressing a big red button to symbolize the debt forgiveness. He claimed it eclipsed the $8 million giveaway by talk-show host Oprah Winfrey when she gave a car to each member of her studio audience one day, making it the biggest ever.

"Are you ready to make television history?" Oliver said. "Let's do this!"

Oliver said it was "disturbingly easy" for his show to set up a company, which it called Central Asset Recovery Professionals, and incorporate it in Mississippi to make the purchase.

Brilliant!!!

[Oinkus]

Yeah that was so neat , I like it almost as much as when he formed a church. Less then 60k bought almost 15 mil in debt , some or most of that debt has already been forgiven by the original company and now has some sort of weird " zombie" status. I would think if you forgive someone's debt it should be wiped clean and disappear. Got to like John Oliver he seems to have a good crew that does their homework pretty well .

[skarydrunkguy]

the ridiculous thing is that this was "uncollectable" debt which was still trying to be collected on. I'm not sure that qualifies as actually forgiving the debt, but it was still a cool gesture.

J.O. is the man.

[Big Flannel]

J.O. is a spineless cuck.

[Agileguy]

J.O. is a spineless cuck.

Por quoi?

[Dr. Vegetable]

Flanny's just bitchy because of that whole Drumpf thing. He'll be back to his old self after he gets home from the Nazi rally today.

[Big Flannel]

Flanny's just bitchy because of that whole Drumpf thing.  He'll be back to his old self after he gets home from the Nazi rally today.

Funny.

I'm bitchy because I work with medical debt all day, every day. I see how this affects small/private enterprise and i don't like it.

John Oliver has been on the objectively wrong side of every argument he's tried to make - especially with concern to the free-flow of people from violent regions with violent ideology prior to the Paris attacks.

Now, I'll forgive you for calling me a Nazi. It was clearly a baseless mistake made under the effects of whatever menial claim triggered you. Its okay. I understand. You wouldn't be the first person to forget that I (along with Mr. Trump) do not identify as Socialist.

You are forgiven.

[FORMULA73]

Did you push the big red button when you forgave him?