Skip to main content

John Oliver uses soap opera stars to make his point about the Syrian refugee crisis

john oliver syrian refugee crisis jon refugees still
LastWeekTonight/YouTube
John Oliver made magic happen for 16-year-old Syrian refugee Noujain Mustaffa on the most recent episode of Last Week Tonight: He reunited her favorite soap opera couple, EJ and Sami, for a scene that highlighted the heartbreaking crisis and the mistreatment of refugees. There was even a shoutout to the amazing teenager — and Days of Our Lives Fan — who journeyed for 20 days from her hometown to the border of Hungary, a trek made all the more difficult by the fact that she’s in a wheelchair.

Along with her sister and a family friend, Mustaffa has been trying to reach Germany, where her brother is already seeking asylum, according to the BBC. Oliver was clearly touched by her story and used it as an example of the struggle that many refugees have faced, from not being to get an appointment to register with the government till five years from now to being kicked by members of the media.

He didn’t stop there, though. In a brilliant move, Oliver enlisted the help of actors James Scott and Alison Sweeney and had them reprise their Days roles to drive the message home.

Fans of the soap, like Mustaffa, know that the reunion was complicated by the fact that Scott’s character, EJ, was killed off, but fortunately, a little thing like that didn’t prevent the reunion from happening. In the skit, EJ explains that he was resurrected by witch doctors. “It was nothing,” he adds. “Coming back from the dead, that’s not hard. You know what’s hard? Getting from Syria to Germany.”

Sami agrees, asking her long-lost love, “Have you seen what those migrants are going through?” The two continue to discuss the crisis, with EJ finally adding, “You know, there are some amazing people coming through that border. I read about this incredible 16-year-old girl from Kobani named Noujain Mustaffa.”

Simply put, the skit is gold. Watch the segment below. The hilarious yet thought-provoking reunion comes around the 15:35 mark.

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: Migrants and Refugees (HBO)
Stephanie Topacio Long
Stephanie Topacio Long is a writer and editor whose writing interests range from business to books. She also contributes to…
Where to watch the 2024 Kentucky Derby live stream
Horses running down the track at the Kentucky Derby.

The first Saturday in May belongs to horse racing. All eyes will be on Churchill Downs for the 2024 Kentucky Derby. This year's edition is the 150th Running of the Kentucky Derby. "The Run for the Roses" is the first leg of the Triple Crown, and will be followed by the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes.

Fierceness opened as the morning line favorite at 5-2. On the back of Fierceness will be jockey John R. Velazquez, a three-time Kentucky Derby winner. Fierceness is trained by Todd Pletcher, who won the Kentucky Derby in 2010 and 2017. Fierceness is looking to become the first horse starting from Post 17 to win.
Watch the 2024 Kentucky Derby live stream on NBC
https://twitter.com/KentuckyDerby/status/1785365480783405379

Read more
How to watch the WWE Backlash France 2024 live stream
Logo for WWE Backlash France.

A WWE Premium Live Event (PLE) is heading to Lyon Metropolis for the first time for WWE Backlash France 2024. Since the formation of TKO in September 2023, WWE has prioritized global expansion. In 2024, Backlash France is the second PLE to be held outside the U.S., and it won't be the last. Five of the next six WWE PLEs will take place outside the U.S.

Heading into Backlash, WWE is entering the "American Nightmare Era." After finishing his story at WrestleMania 40, Cody Rhodes is now the Undisputed WWE Champion. A different era means a new crop of challengers for Rhodes. First up is AJ Styles, a former two-time WWE champion. Rhodes must bring his A-game if he wants to walk out of France as champion.

Read more
If you have to watch one Star Wars movie this May the 4th, stream this one
Luke looking off into the binary sunset before dying in The Last Jedi.

Every Star Wars fan has a favorite movie, and many Star Wars fans also hate at least one of the entries in one of their favorite franchises. That can make the exercise of choosing the perfect Star Wars movie to watch on May the 4th difficult. For all of the love this fan base has shown to the franchise over the years, it's also a fan base that has strong opinions about why one movie or another is worthy of your time.

This May 4, though, I'd recommend watching Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Almost undoubtedly the most controversial entry in the saga, one that makes some people furious and others jump for joy, The Last Jedi is worthy of your attention, whether you like what it's doing or not. Here are three reasons you should check it out:
Luke gets to live the Jedi legend

Read more