Home

NFL

“Brett, I Have Some Terrible News for You..”: John Oliver Rips Into Former Packers Legend Over $77 Million Mississippi Scam

Published 03/14/2023, 11:01 AM EDT

Follow Us

John Oliver has been on a roll lately. The comedian and the show host of ‘Last Week Tonight with John Oliver’ has been ripping apart scandalous personalities left, right, and center. The latest in his crosshairs is none other than NFL legend, Brett Favre. Oliver turned his attention to the former Green Bay Packers QB, who has become embroiled in a massive scandal. The scandal involves the misappropriation of millions of dollars in welfare funds in Mississippi.

The scandal has been described as the largest case of public fraud in Mississippi history. It has seen at least $77 million of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds ending up in the hands of wealthy and powerful Mississippians. Six people have been arrested, five of whom have pleaded guilty to their involvement. Favre, however, has denied any wrongdoing and has not been criminally charged.

John Oliver shreds former Green Bay Packers QB Brett Favre 

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

According to a state audit and a civil lawsuit, Favre was paid $1.1 million from TANF funds for speeches that the auditor says he never made. He eventually paid the money back, but the auditor demanded that he also pay $228,000 in interest. Furthermore, the athletic foundation at his alma mater, the University of Southern Mississippi, received $5 million in welfare money. Texts reveal that while his daughter was on the squad, Favre pressed state officials to provide funds for a new volleyball facility on campus. 

Trending

Get instantly notified of the hottest NFL stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

Favre was concerned about his involvement in the scandal being discovered, according to text messages. He was especially concerned about his dealings being discovered by the media. 

John Oliver certainly put it best when he said, “Brett I have some terrible news for you the media did find out that’s what’s happening now.” During his segment, Oliver criticized Favre for his involvement in the scandal and his lack of accountability. 

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Favre sends out response to involvement in Mississippi scandal

The scandal has rocked Mississippi and raised concerns about the misuse of public funds meant to help the most vulnerable in society. Oliver’s segment has sparked a debate about the role of celebrities in promoting and advocating for social causes. Celebrities have a responsibility to use their platform to raise awareness and advocate for issues concerning the general public. But more often than celebrities are full of hypocrisy and use their fame to enrich themselves.

via Getty

The outcome of Favre’s case is yet to be decided. Although the HOF QB has alleged that he played no role in the case, the truth is still up in the air. For his part, Favre has filed a countering defamation lawsuit, calling his alleged involvement a smear campaign against him. As more details continue to emerge, stay tuned to find more updates about the situation. 

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Watch This Story:  I thought I was going to die: This 77-Year-Old Bodybuilder Credits Weightlifting for Saving His Life

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :

Written by:

Armaan Gupta

307Articles

One take at a time

Armaan Gupta is an NFL author at Essentially Sports. He is currently pursuing a degree in Mass Media and Communication. He is your quintessential sports nerd, as you’ll always find him consuming some form of sports content.
Show More>

Edited by:

Deepika Bhaduri