John Oliver Tackles Tibet and China: ‘The Whole Territory is a Gross Human Rights Violation’

Last Week Tonight host, John Oliver, spent a nearly 20-minute segment of his show Sunday exploring the China-Tibet conflict and the Dalai Lama, who he called, “a man so enlightened he’s basically the original woke bae.”

And while the issue has faded somewhat from its height of prominence in the 1990s, the late night host brought all the fire to which viewers have become accustomed.

“The whole territory is a gross human rights violation,” said Oliver describing Tibet’s harsh occupation under Chinese rule. Oliver also explained the controversial Tibetan practice of self-immolation as a form of protest. “Every part of that is fucking horrifying.”

And yet, as Oliver pointed out in a few man-on-the-street interviews, ordinary people generally didn’t know much about the Dalai Lama. In a surprise twist, the comedian spent the second half of the segment in an discussion with the spiritual leader in exile at his home in Dharamsala, India.

“[The Chinese] describe me as a demon,” said the Dalai Lama. “A demon with horns.” During the discussion, Oliver pressed the Tibetan leader on his refusal to condemn self-immolation and the future of the Tibetan issue after his death.

“My position is very, very difficult,” said the Lama adding that he may defy Buddhist custom and decline to be reincarnated after his death.

Watch the full segment above.

[image via screengrab]

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