
"#JeffWeCan" started trending on Twitter Sunday after Last Week Tonight host John Oliver called on tobacco companies to adopt a new mascot, "Jeff the Diseased Lung."
Oliver presented Jeff - a sickly, diseased lung wearing a cowboy hat -- as an alternative to big tobacco branding, like Marlboro's iconic cowboy.
During the 18-minute segment, Oliver railed against tobacco companies, particularly Phillip Morris International, for threatening to sue smaller countries that have taken steps to limit branding on cigarette packets.
Smoking rates in the United States ave dramatically decreased since the 1960s, Oliver explained. But tobacco companies have turned their attention to foreign markets, like Uruguay and Togo, which don't have the financial resources to fend off expensive lawsuits.
"It's clear what each side wants," he said. "Countries want to warn their citizens about the health dangers of smoking tobacco. Tobacco companies want to be able to present branded images that they have spent time and money to cultivate."
By way of compromise, Oliver said the Last Week Tonight team had come up with Jeff, and already posted Jeff billboards in Uruguay and mailed Jeff t-shirts to Togo. He also encouraged social media users to make Jeff the new face of smoking.
GMT 09:47 2018 Tuesday ,23 January
SAP unveils big push into French tech start-upsGMT 05:07 2018 Tuesday ,23 January
Noble Group shares surge 37 percent on buyout talksGMT 19:07 2018 Monday ,22 January
BAKS spent Dh225m on charity projects in 2017GMT 22:52 2018 Sunday ,21 January
French firm "recalls baby milk product"GMT 22:27 2018 Sunday ,21 January
US company plans funds that double bitcoin price movesGMT 21:23 2018 Sunday ,21 January
Pence starts Mideast tour in Egypt amid Arab angerGMT 08:54 2018 Saturday ,20 January
Million-euro bill for firm behind Paris bike-share chaosGMT 10:47 2018 Friday ,19 January
German chemical giant BASF sees 'significant' profit leap

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor