In an episode dissecting the 2024 presidential election results, John Oliver delivered a humorous take on Kamala Harris’ loss, jokingly blaming it on Katy Perry’s “ill-advised” cover of Whitney Houston’s “Greatest Love of All” at a last-minute rally.
While the Last Week Tonight host observed that everyone seemed to be spinning their “own personal wheel of blame”—whether directed at progressives, campaign strategies, or specific demographics—he chose a more unexpected culprit.
“Personally, I’d like to imagine that everything that happened on Tuesday is Katy Perry’s fault,” he quipped, introducing a clip of the pop star’s off-key performance. “I mean, no one can take away your dignity because you surrendered it willingly,” he joked, referencing the lyrics of the song. “Why cover Whitney Houston—the voice? Say what you want about Lee Greenwood, but at least when he played at Trump rallies, he wasn’t attempting Freddie Mercury’s part in ‘Somebody to Love.’”
He continued, “Did that bachelorette karaoke night performance sink Harris’ campaign? Probably not. But it feels good to think so, because it’s an easy answer to a difficult question.”
Oliver also poked fun at critics who claimed Harris didn’t pivot far enough right in her policies, adding that campaigning alongside Liz Cheney was about as conservative as she could get “unless you literally dig up Henry Kissinger’s corpse and prop it up at a rally in Michigan as Katy Perry sings ‘Rolling in the Deep.’ It’s OK not to have the range, Katy.”
Throughout the episode, Oliver offered commentary on the nation’s next steps and what people could do. He took a swipe at Donald Trump ally Elon Musk: “Seeing a man worth $300 billion tell the country to ‘endure hardship’ and ‘live within their means’ fills me with a feeling that, apparently, I cannot say out loud for legal reasons.”
He also chided congressional Democrats who were skipping early, leaving the floor lacking in attendance. “I believe Kimberly Kardashian might have said it best,” he joked, playing the clip of her saying, “Get your f—ing ass up and work.”
Wrapping up, he expressed frustration at the thought of facing more comments like, “So, is your job easier with Trump as president?” with a fierce, “No, it f—ing isn’t. F— you so much!”
On a more earnest note, Oliver encouraged viewers to grieve however they needed, suggesting they “throw your phone into the nearest body of water, scream into a well, punch a tree, curl up into a ball and watch The Princess Diaries,” only to shout, “No they f—ing don’t!” when “Miracles Happen” starts playing.
He closed with a reminder that grassroots efforts and local politics have seen meaningful wins, pointing to recent progressive legislation and pro-LGBTQ+ candidates elected across the country.
Ending the night, Oliver emphasized the power of resisting and protesting, even while running on “fumes,” throwing one last playful jab at Perry: “And don’t just take that from me. Take it from one of the world’s greatest singers being covered by a very different singer.”