Joe Rogan says he’s a victim, calling video compilation a ‘political hit job’
Embattled Joe Rogan claims he’s a victim and slams compilation video of him using the ‘N-word’ as a ‘political hit job’ in latest episode of his podcast
In his most recent episode on Tuesday, Joe Rogan claimed a video compilation of him using the N-word was ‘like a political hit job’He claimed the video has ‘always been out there’ but people are ‘taking all this stuff that I ever said and it’s wrong, and smush it all together’Rogan has previously apologized for his use of the racial slurHe said in a video on his Instagram that the slurs were the ‘most regretful and shameful thing’ he has ever had to address He added that he hasn´t used the N-word in years, but said his use of the slur over a 12-year period looked ‘horrible, even to me’The podcast host has now removed dozens of episodes of his show from streaming service Spotify, with which he has a $100 million contract
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Embattled Joe Rogan claimed in his most recent podcast that he is a ‘victim,’ and called a video compilation of him using the ‘N-word’ a ‘political hit job.’
Rogan, 54, has come under fire in recent weeks after artist India.Arie posted a video compilation of all the times he used the ‘N-word’ on The Joe Rogan Experience with the hashtag #DeleteSpotify.
The podcaster said in his episode on Tuesday that the release of the now-viral video is ‘in a lot of ways a relief because that video it’s always been out there.
‘It’s like this is a political hit job,’ he said. ‘And so they’re taking all this stuff that I ever said, and it’s wrong, and smush it all together.
‘But it’s good,’ Rogan continued, ’cause it lets me address some s*** that I really wish wasn’t out there.’
At that point in the episode, his guest, comedian Akaash Singh, praised Rogan for apologizing for his use of the racial slur.
‘You know why I’m proud of you?’ Singh asked, rhetorically. ‘Because I think comedians have for years done this immature thing where it’s like we don’t apologize. We say whatever we want.
‘You can apologize if you say some wild s*** and we’ve all said some wild s*** and you apologized and you owned that it was wrong. Good for you.’
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Joe Rogan, 54, said in his most recent episode on Tuesday that the release of a video compilation of him using the ‘N-word’ is like a ‘political hit job’
Rogan agreed that celebrities should apologize if thy regret something.
‘But I do think you have to be very careful not to apologize for nonsense,’ he said before talking about how comedian Awkwafina defended her speech patterns after she was accused of using a ‘blaccent.’
‘I think you just have to be yourself. I really do,’ Rogan said. ‘And all this nonsense of worrying what your base is is crazy.
‘It’s like “Who are you?” You are you. If you start thinking I have to be who these other people want me to be because they’re the ones that make me popular, you’re f*****.
‘And that world of acting, it’s so hard to be free because you’re always worried about your next gig.
‘If you get canceled, you’re f***** because if there’s anything that’s remotely controversial about you, they’ll go with someone else if they’re casting a major film because they don’t want any ifs, ands or buts.’
Rogan has previously apologized for his use of the racial slur in a video posted to his Instagram
Rogan has previously apologized for his use of the racial slur, saying in an Instagram video he had said things ‘that I wish I hadn’t said, or had said differently.’
He said that the slurs were the ‘most regretful and shameful thing’ he has ever had to address and that he hasn´t used the N-word in years.
Rogan himself said his use of the ‘N word’ over a 12-year period, highlighted in the compilation video, looked ‘horrible, even to me.’
He said he believed at the time that as long as he was using the word in context that people would understand his actions.
‘I never used it to be racist, because I’m not racist,’ he said.
‘There’s nothing I can do to take that back. I wish I could. Obviously, that’s not possible. I certainly wasn’t trying to be racist, and I certainly would never want to offend someone for entertainment with something as stupid as racism,’ Rogan said.
Spotify CEO Daniel Ek also said in a message to employees on Sunday that Rogan’s racist language was ‘incredibly hurtful’ and that the host was behind the removal of dozens of episodes of his show.
‘While I strongly condemn what Joe has said and I agree with his decision to remove past episodes from our platform, I realize some will want more,’ Ek said in the note. ‘And I want to make one point very clear – I do not believe that silencing Joe is the answer.’
The letter is the clearest indication yet of where Spotify stands on Rogan´s fate with the company as some musicians, including Neil Young and India.Arie, have pulled their work from the streaming service in protest and others could follow.
Rogan has a $100 million deal with Spotify to host his Joe Rogan Experience
Rogan had also previously faced backlash for COVID-19 misinformation in his program hosted on Spotify, with progressives and others calling on the streaming service to cancel the Joe Rogan Experience host’s $100million deal for spreading misinformation regarding the COVID-19 vaccine.
Singer-songwriters including Neil Young and Joni Mitchell eventually pulled their content from the streaming platform, while others, like Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson rallied around Rogan after he spoke out against the allegations that he was spreading ‘spreading COVID misinformation.’
In response to Rogan’s video, Johnson wrote: ‘Great stuff here brother. Perfectly articulated. Look forward to coming on one day and breaking out the tequila with you.’
The wrestler-turned-actor later apologized for his support of Rogan, his longtime friend, after the video of him using the ‘N-word’ spread.
‘I was not aware of his N word use prior to my comments, but now I’ve become educated to his complete narrative. Learning moment for me,’ Johnson, tweeted Friday after author and political activist Don Winslow called out the action movie star for his support of Rogan.
Spotify CEO Daniel Ek also said in a message to employees on Sunday that Rogan’s racist language was ‘incredibly hurtful’ and that the host was behind the removal of dozens of episodes of his show.
‘While I strongly condemn what Joe has said and I agree with his decision to remove past episodes from our platform, I realize some will want more,’ Ek said in the note. ‘And I want to make one point very clear – I do not believe that silencing Joe is the answer.’
‘We should have clear lines around content and take action when they are crossed, but canceling voices is a slippery slope. Looking at the issue more broadly, it´s critical thinking and open debate that powers real and necessary progress,’ Ek wrote.
In his letter, Ek announced an investment of $100 million to license, develop and market ‘music and audio content from historically marginalized groups,’ without giving more details.
Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump has said Rogan should ‘stop apologizing’.
‘Joe Rogan is an interesting and popular guy, but he’s got to stop apologizing to the Fake News and Radical Left maniacs and lunatics,’ Trump began.
‘How many ways can you say you’re sorry? Joe, just go about what you do so well and don’t let them make you look weak and frightened. That’s not you and it never will be!’ Trump wrote in a statement on Monday night.
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson had previously supported the controversial podcaster after he became embroiled in controversy and was accused by Neil Young of spreading COVID misinformation
The Rock, 49, tweeted Friday he did not know of Rogan’s use of the N-word after author and political activist Don Winslow called out the star
The streaming platform has already removed more than 70 episodes of Rogan’s podcast following his first apology on Saturday.
It has also added a ‘content advisory’ to any episode featuring discussion of COVID-19 as scientists and medical professionals urged the platform to prevent Rogan from spreading falsehoods.
Spotify said it would soon add a warning to all podcasts that discuss COVID-19, directing listeners to factual, up-to-date information from scientists and public health experts.
Rogan’s show, The Joe Rogan Experience, has become one of the most popular podcasts on Spotify after the streaming platform started featuring it in 2020.
Spotify’s exclusive licensing deal for the show was worth more than $100 million.
