John Oliver has a short, NSFW message for anyone who thinks London is 'reeling' after the London Bridge attack

John Oliver raises a toast to London
(Image credit: Screenshot/YouTube/Last Week Tonight)

John Oliver began Sunday's Last Week Tonight with a short message about Saturday night's terrorist attack in London, in which seven people were killed and four dozen injured. "Obviously, our thoughts go out to everyone affected," he said, "but as a British person living in America, I feel compelled to address a certain theme that emerged through American coverage of this tragedy."

"Okay, here's the thing: For the record, in no way is Britain under siege," Oliver said, after playing some U.S. cable news footage. "Is it upset? Yes. Is it pissed off? Oh, you f—ing bet it's pissed off. But to say it's 'under siege' and that its people are 'reeling' is to imply that it's somehow weak enough to be brought to its knees by three monumental a—holes. And that, as an idea, is insulting." Britons were so irritated they took to Twitter to joke about #ThingsThatLeaveBritainReeling, like people who make tea in a microwave. "Honestly, it was an uplifting demonstration of quintessentially British defiance. Because the British people are never going to let terror change their way of life." He provided some video proof, including the "one-man walking 'Keep Calm and Carry On' poster" and an interview of a man so unrattled by the attack that Oliver raised a gin and tonic in his honor. The clip contains NSFW language. Watch below. Peter Weber

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.