In July, a federal judge upheld an order cancel the Washington Redskins’ trademark on the grounds that the team’s name is offensive to Native Americans. The NFL franchise appealed the decision last week, and as John Oliver explains, its argument rests on shaky logic.
Watch John Oliver tear apart the Washington Redskins’ offensive trademark appeal
Because Jizz Underwear and Crotchless Gummy Panties
Because Jizz Underwear and Crotchless Gummy Panties
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In the 82-page appeal, filed last Friday, the team points to other “offensive” trademarks that have been approved by the government, including “Slutseeker dating services, Capitalism Sucks Donkey Balls, and Hot Octopuss anti-premature ejaculation creams,” Oliver said on the most recent episode of his HBO show Last Week Tonight. “Also cited: Edible Crotchless Gummy Panties, Dick Balls, and Klitoris with a ‘K.’” The aim was to expose what the franchise sees as a double standard, with its lawyers arguing that “just about everything is disparaging to someone.” According to Oliver, though, “that’s not the fucking point.”
“The word ‘Redskins’ isn’t ‘potentially disparaging to someone,’” Oliver said, “it is currently disparaging to specific individuals.”
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