The TV host is auctioning off some of his series' most iconic props as part of a fundraiser to support local public media stations. How John Oliver's junk is taking on Trump with help of Russell Crowe's jockstrap The TV host is auctioning off some of his series' most iconic props as part of a fundraiser to support local public media stations. By Lauren Huff :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/PXL202501060627063092a245c0a56a194868af7b6a47af56223c.

The TV host is auctioning off some of his series' most iconic props as part of a fundraiser to support local public media stations.

How John Oliver's junk is taking on Trump with help of Russell Crowe's jockstrap

The TV host is auctioning off some of his series' most iconic props as part of a fundraiser to support local public media stations.

By Lauren Huff

Lauren Huff

Lauren Huff is an award-winning journalist and staff writer at ** with over 12 years of experience covering all facets of the entertainment industry.

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November 17, 2025 8:55 p.m. ET

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John Oliver bought Russell Crowe's jockstrap for the last Blockbuster in Alaska. Credit:

John Oliver has a rather, uh, *nuts* new way to take on the Trump administration's cuts to public media.

As announced on the latest episode of his show *Last Week Tonight With John Oliver*, the TV host is auctioning off some of the series' most iconic props as part of a fundraiser to support local public media stations after Congress chose to eliminate $1.1 billion that had been allocated to fund public broadcasting. Chief among them? The jockstrap Russell Crowe wore while filming *Cinderella Man*.

Longtime fans of Oliver's late-night series will recall how, in April 2018, he revealed that his show had indeed purchased Crowe's jockstrap for $7,000 — and several other items as well — from the actor's "divorce auction." Crowe's auction included other movie memorabilia from his career, including seat backs used by Crowe and costar Denzel Washington on the set of *American Gangster*, the vest he wore in *Les Miserables*, the hood Crowe donned in *Robin Hood*, a satin robe and shorts also worn in *Cinderella Man*, and more.

Oliver's auction, meanwhile, will support the Public Media Bridge Fund, which gives financial support to local stations. The jockstrap is currently going for north of $20,000.

Russell Crowe in 'Cinderella Man'.

Universal/ Everett

In total, there are 65 items up for bid, and potential buyers have until Nov. 24 to make their final offers. In true *Last Week Tonight* fashion, the other items up for auction run the gamut from the practical to the absolutely ridiculous, and encompass other items from the show's lengthy lore of gags.

This includes the cabbage Oliver "married" in the show's ninth season, Mrs. Cabbage Oliver, which is currently going for $10,000, as well as an autographed bucket of dolls that washed up on a Texas beach (also from season 9), which is at a current going rate of $2,500. And who could forget the giant sculpture of President Lyndon B. Johnson's scrotum, from a "season 12 segment on presidential libraries in which an audio recording of President Johnson describing his undercarriage in detail is played," per the listing.**

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"It is true in July, Congress approved Trump's plan to eliminate the [Corporation for Public Broadcasting]'s funding entirely," Oliver said on his show in announcing the auction. "It is one of many egregious actions this administration has taken, which is why the number one search on Google this year is probably going to end up being, 'Wait, can the government do that?' And all of this has understandably upset a lot of people."

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He continued, "So, what can we do? Well, in a universe in which a competent, effective government were in place, we'd ideally work on a long-term fix for the way the CPB is funded, and instead of giving Congress the power to take its money away every two years, we'd institute some kind of tax or licensing fee that could reliably fund it. That is something people have been recommending since the CPB was first created. Sadly, we do not live in that universe right now, and until we do, public media is in a dire situation."

But, as Oliver pointed out, all hope is not lost. Concerned viewers can donate directly to broadcasting stations most in need by going to adoptastation.org. Or, you can bid on LBJ's balls and Crowe's jockstrap, of course.**

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Source: "EW Comedy"

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Source: Comedy

Published: November 21, 2025 at 04:39PM on Source: PRIMO MAG

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