🚨 Late-Night Clash! John Oliver’s Netanyahu Rant Leaves Stephen Colbert Catching a Stray 😱🎤🔥

When late-night comedians go after political giants, it’s usually the politicians who end up with bruised egos. But this week, in a twist no one saw coming, Stephen Colbert found himself caught in the crossfire of John Oliver’s blistering takedown of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Yes, you read that right. While Oliver was dismantling Netanyahu with his trademark mix of fury, sarcasm, and receipts, he somehow managed to slide in a jab at his fellow late-night host Colbert—leaving fans buzzing: Was it a friendly nudge, or something more serious brewing behind the late-night curtains?

John Oliver Goes Off on Netanyahu

On HBO’s Last Week Tonight, Oliver dedicated a lengthy segment to Netanyahu, diving into the Israeli leader’s corruption scandals, controversial judicial reforms, and mounting backlash at home and abroad. It was vintage Oliver: relentless, witty, and absolutely unforgiving.

But just when the audience thought the night’s target was squarely Netanyahu, Oliver whipped out a clip from Colbert’s show back in 2016.

The clip itself? A seemingly harmless interview with actor Armie Hammer, which Colbert’s team had packaged under the rather peculiar title: “Armie Hammer Ate NYC Street Meat and Lives to Eat Another Day.”

Cue the confusion. Cue the laughter. Cue Oliver’s deadpan delivery:

“This is how Colbert’s show decided to market it. That’s… that’s the headline. And honestly, you don’t survive that title without being Armie Hammer.”

The audience erupted, but the moment wasn’t lost on late-night fans. Why drag Colbert into a Netanyahu rant? Was Oliver just riffing? Or was this a subtle dig aimed at the CBS host?

Stephen Colbert Catches a Stray

The phrase “catching a stray” usually applies to rappers dissing each other, or Twitter users getting roasted when they weren’t even part of the argument. But this time, it’s Colbert—one of late night’s most respected and beloved figures—who ended up with a little collateral damage.

To be fair, Oliver’s jab wasn’t vicious. It was more like a sarcastic flick than a punch. But the fact that he chose to throw Colbert into the mix at all has tongues wagging.

Colbert, who has built his reputation on sharp satire and warm-hearted interviews, wasn’t exactly the villain of the story. Yet by highlighting an oddly titled clip from his archives, Oliver reminded everyone that even the mighty Colbert isn’t immune from ridicule.

And in true tabloid fashion, fans are already speculating: Is there low-key tension between the two? Or was this simply Oliver doing what Oliver does best—finding the funniest possible angle, no matter who gets caught in the blast?

The Internet Reacts: Drama or Banter?

Within hours of the episode airing, Twitter and Reddit lit up with theories. Some insisted Oliver was just playfully roasting a friend, noting that the late-night community often thrives on cross-show ribbing. Others, however, weren’t so sure.

One viral tweet read:

“John Oliver roasted Netanyahu… and somehow still managed to body Stephen Colbert in the process. Late night civil war when?? 👀🔥”

Another chimed in:

“Colbert catching a stray from Oliver is peak 2025 energy. Protect our late-night dads!”

And then came the conspiracy theorists, claiming that Oliver’s choice wasn’t random at all—that perhaps HBO’s loudest voice is tired of CBS’s golden boy dominating ratings and headlines.

Behind the Curtain: How Close Are Colbert and Oliver?

It’s worth remembering that both Colbert and Oliver are veterans of the comedy-satire ecosystem, with deep roots in The Daily Show. Colbert sharpened his political persona alongside Jon Stewart, while Oliver cut his teeth as a correspondent before breaking out on HBO.

The two have often spoken warmly of each other, though they rarely cross paths publicly. That’s why the stray comment felt so unexpected: it wasn’t just some random late-night host being roasted—it was someone from the same comedy family tree.

For late-night historians, this isn’t unprecedented. We’ve seen Jimmy Kimmel lob grenades at Jimmy Fallon, and Seth Meyers slyly shade James Corden. But Oliver aiming at Colbert? That’s fresh drama.

What About Netanyahu?

Ironically, the original subject of Oliver’s rant—Benjamin Netanyahu—was almost overshadowed by the Colbert moment. Oliver’s takedown was brutal, cataloging years of political scandals and the Israeli leader’s knack for clinging to power.

But the internet, being the internet, latched onto the Colbert aside like hungry piranhas. Instead of headlines reading “John Oliver Dismantles Netanyahu”, many screamed: “Stephen Colbert Catches a Stray!”

Poor Bibi. Not even global political controversy can compete with the spectacle of one late-night host ribbing another.

What Happens Next?

So, will Colbert respond? That’s the million-dollar question. Some fans are eagerly waiting for him to fire back during his monologue, perhaps with a tongue-in-cheek rebuttal. After all, Colbert isn’t one to shy away from a punchline opportunity.

If he does, we could be witnessing the birth of a new late-night rivalry—one that pits HBO’s chaos agent against CBS’s king of charm. Imagine the segments, the crossover jokes, the memes. Late-night could use a little fresh drama.

On the other hand, Colbert may simply let it slide, chalking it up to Oliver being Oliver. That’s the safe move, but where’s the fun in that?

Drama Sells, and Late Night Knows It

Let’s face it: in today’s media landscape, even late-night comedy needs a little drama to keep audiences hooked. Whether intentional or not, Oliver gave fans something they didn’t know they needed: a dose of intra-late-night intrigue.

Colbert catching a stray during a Netanyahu takedown may seem trivial, but it speaks to the ever-shifting dynamics of late-night television. These shows don’t just compete for laughs—they compete for cultural dominance. And sometimes, the best way to win is to throw a friend under the bus for a laugh.

Final Word

So, was Oliver’s jab at Colbert just harmless fun? Probably. But the internet doesn’t thrive on “harmless fun.” It thrives on drama, speculation, and the possibility that something bigger is brewing behind the scenes.

For now, we’re left with a tantalizing question:
👉 Is late night heading toward a playful war of words—or was this just one stray shot that will be forgotten by next week?