Jeff the Diseased Lung

Jeff the Diseased Lung, fully named Jeff the Diseased Lung in a Cowboy Hat, is a mascot created by comedian John Oliver for the American global cigarette and tobacco company Philip Morris International, the makers of Marlboro cigarettes. The character was introduced on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver on February 15, 2015, with a segment about the tobacco industry. Oliver offered the mascot to Philip Morris to use free of charge. He and his team promoted the character by sending shirts with his image to Togo and displaying billboards in Uruguay.
During the segment, Oliver encouraged viewers to use the hastag '#JeffWeCan', which trended on Twitter.
Description
Jeff has been described as a "cartoon-like, diseased lung cowboy created by crossing the diseased lung pictured on cigarette packs in Australia with the Marlboro Man". The fictional anthropomorphic cartoon character helps to "bridge the gap between the Marlboro Man, a figure used in advertising campaigns for Marlboro cigarettes, and a 'lung that looks like you're breathing through baked ziti'".
Response by Philip Morris International
Philip Morris issued a statement which read in part: On February 15, 2015, the 'Last Week Tonight with John Oliver' show dedicated a significant portion of its program to our company ... 'Last Week Tonight with John Oliver' is a parody show, known for getting a laugh through exaggeration and presenting partial views in the name of humor. The segment includes many mischaracterizations of our company, including our approach to marketing and regulation, which have been embellished in the spirit of comedic license ... While we recognize the tobacco industry is an easy target for comedians, we take seriously the responsibility that comes with selling a product that is an adult choice and is harmful to health ... We support and comply with thousands of regulations worldwide — including advertising restrictions, penalties for selling tobacco products to minors, and substantial health warnings on packaging. We're investing billions into developing and scientifically assessing a portfolio of products that have the potential to be less harmful and that are satisfying so smokers will switch to them. And, like any other company with a responsibility to its business partners, shareholders and employees, we ask only that laws protecting investments, including trademarks, be equally applied to us.
The statement also provided to readers a "balanced view" and facts about the issues raised by Oliver, including the company's marketing practices and "approach to regulation". Philip Morris included links to its "Be Marlboro" campaign, which is "aimed at competing for existing adult smoker market share", reasons for why the company is challenging Australia and Uruguay's censorship of their trademarks, and "facts about smoking prevalence in Australia after the introduction of plain packaging". Alex Frail of The Massachusetts Daily Collegian said, "The power to spark a movement like Jeff the Diseased Lung isn't shared by Oliver's contemporaries."
In August 2015, the Los Angeles Times named Oliver and costume designer Mikaela Wohl winners in the "Costume designer's quietest cry for help" category for the paper's 2015 Envy Awards, a parody of the annual Emmy Awards. Randee Dawn complimented both for their hard work and humor, but said Wohl's work on "amazing" costumes like Jeff and Russian Space Sex Gecko distracted her from using her "creative energies" for dressing Oliver.

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