John Oliver, host of HBO's Last Week Tonight, has picked a fight with one of America's most litigious convenience store chains. During a segment this week, Oliver dared Buc-ee's—the Texas-based behemoth known for its sprawling gas stations and aggressive legal defense of its beaver mascot—to take him to court over a new line of parody merchandise.
Oliver's team launched a website, Buc-off.com, selling T-shirts, hats, onesies, coffee mugs, and stickers featuring a cartoon squirrel named Mr. Nutterbutter alongside the slogan “Buc-off” in a style that closely mimics Buc-ee's branding. Proceeds from the store, which is slated to run until September 8, will go to Hunger Free America. A disclaimer on the site states the items are “not authorized by or affiliated with Buc-ee's.”
The segment was prompted by Buc-ee's history of filing trademark and copyright infringement lawsuits against small businesses and other companies. Earlier this year, Buc-ee's sued an Ohio gas station chain called Mickey's over its moose logo, despite Mickey's having used the mascot since 2020—years before Buc-ee's opened its first Ohio location. That case is still ongoing.
In 2023, Buc-ee's sued a Florida store and a South Carolina apparel company for alleged copyright infringement. A Missouri business settled, and another shut down after Buc-ee's accused both of trademark violations. In Oklahoma, an underwear and apparel company called BUCEE's vowed to fight back; owner Jarrad Hewett told Nexstar's KFOR in November that “it's time that somebody stands up and says, 'This isn't right.'”
Oliver echoed that sentiment, noting that Buc-ee's has won most of the more than a dozen lawsuits it has brought, largely because defendants lack the resources to fight a corporate giant. He cited a Fast Company article in which a legal expert warned Buc-ee's could eventually “run into somebody who has the means or the will to fight with you.” Oliver declared, “It turns out, we very much have the will to get into a fight with Buc-ee's.”
To drive the point home, Oliver brought back Mr. Nutterbutter, a squirrel mascot from a previous segment, and displayed merchandise featuring the character in a Buc-ee's-esque design. He then walked onto a set built to resemble a Buc-ee's store, complete with a bronze statue of Mr. Nutterbutter and a costumed mascot. “So, if any prominent gas station chain out there has an issue with our new logo and products and wants to get lawyers involved, then you know what? Bring it the f— on,” Oliver said. “Although, remember, in doing so, you'd be directly taking food out of hungry people's mouths.”
Buc-ee's has not yet responded to requests for comment. The chain, which recently wowed international visitors during the World Cup and is planning to open at least two dozen more stores, is known for its Beaver Nuggets, smoked meats, and wedding-venue-sized locations. But its legal tactics have drawn increasing scrutiny, and Oliver's challenge may test whether the company is willing to take on a well-funded TV show—and risk the public backlash of suing over a charity fundraiser.
The move comes amid broader debates about intellectual property overreach. In recent months, legal experts have questioned aggressive trademark enforcement by large corporations. Oliver's gambit could set a precedent for how parody and criticism are handled in the age of viral media.
