Last year, we reported how Buc-ee's sent a cease-and-desist letter to Jarad Hewett, the owner of Nut Huggers, a line of men's underwear. The Texas-based chain of oversized travel centers accused Hewett of exploiting its famous beaver logo.
Videos by Wide Open Country
Hewett said the letter suggested that Buc-ee's "owned all cartoon rodents." The business owner offered to make some compromises, such as removing similar colors from the Nut Huggers logo. But Hewett said that only made things worse.
"They came back and basically said, 'Great, now that you've given us this, we want everything else," said Hewett.
Word of the suit reached John Oliver, host of the HBO comedy news show Last Week Tonight. In response to what Oliver believes are frivolous lawsuits against small business owners like Hewett, he introduced a line of merchandise that practically dares Buc-ee's to involve its legal team.
Buc-ee's, Meet Buc-Off
As fans of Last Week Tonight know, the show has a rodent mascot named Mr. Nutterbutter. Oliver shared that the cartoon animal is the inspiration behind the show's new line of merchandise, named Buc-Off.
"As one legal expert has said, 'The more you do this... the more you might run into somebody who has the means or the will to fight with you about it," explained Oliver.
He then added, "And that is where we come in. As it turns out, we very much have the will to get into a fight with Buc-ee's."
The host then introduced the Buc-Off line of merchandise. It includes T-shirts, boxer briefs, hats, pajama pants, water bottles, sticker sheets, mugs, umbrellas, and baby onesies.
But the purpose of selling these items isn't just to piss off Buc-ee's. It isn't even going to line Oliver's pockets with cash. All of the proceeds from the sale of Buc-Off merch will go to Hunger Free America.
"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!"
You can watch the entire clip below. And if you want something fashionable to wear while getting a bag of Beaver Nuggets, click here.
