Last year, Joe Rogan persistently encouraged a guest for nearly half an hour to accept a claim that was undeniably false: that the 1969 Apollo 11 moon landing, widely regarded as humanity’s greatest scientific achievement, was completely fabricated, despite the fact that the U.S. left equipment on the lunar surface.
For the audience of The Joe Rogan Experience, which frequently ranks as one of the most popular podcasts in the nation, such instances have become increasingly frequent since the onset of the pandemic. Rogan and some of his right-leaning guests often disseminate falsehoods, frequently prefaced by the disclaimer, “I’m not saying this for certain, but I’m skeptical.” Given that his guests typically gain financially from their appearances and that he rarely invites those who might challenge his viewpoints, it is uncommon for someone to genuinely confront him on these matters.
However, this week, during a charged discussion, British conservative columnist Douglas Murray promptly challenged the conspiracy theories being promoted on Rogan’s show during his appearance alongside comedian Dave Smith.
“If you throw a lot of nonsense out there, there comes a point where saying ‘I’m just raising questions’ is not a valid excuse,” Murray stated. “You’re not raising questions. You’re making assertions … I feel you’ve opened the door to a lot of people. You now have a significant platform and are presenting dangerously misleading historical narratives.”
Murray specifically criticized Rogan for hosting Ian Carroll, a YouTuber known for promoting antisemitic conspiracy theories, and Darryl Cooper, who has controversially attempted to rationalize the Nazis’ mass murders by claiming they were victims of inadequate planning. Both appeared on Rogan’s show in March.
“There’s been a shift in the conversation over the last couple of years, largely due to individuals who have appointed themselves as experts, despite lacking expertise,” Murray continued. “The issue is that your platform has flourished because you’re a successful comedian who asks questions and is genuinely curious. Yet many of those who come on your show have decided they can play a dual role: pushing extremely edgy and sometimes horrific opinions, and when challenged, claiming, ‘I’m just a comedian.’”
Murray highlighted the criticisms of Britain’s World War II Prime Minister Winston Churchill, whose resilience against Hitler and leadership during adversity are often revered. Cooper has labeled him “the chief villain of the Second World War.”
“These individuals are not historians, nor are they knowledgeable,” Murray emphasized.
“No one’s calling Ian Carroll a historian,” Rogan responded.
“Then why listen to their opinions on Churchill?” Murray pushed back. “It’s difficult to take advice from someone who admits, ‘I don’t know what I’m talking about, but here’s my opinion.’ If we all pretend Churchill was the villain of the 20th century, at some point, you’ll lead people down a path that embraces that view, and that’s complete nonsense.”
Rogan explained, “I don’t view it that way. I just want to talk to this person … I didn’t invite him on for that reason. I brought him on to understand how someone gets involved in the conspiracy theory scene. His focus is simply conspiracies.”
Reactions from Rogan’s audience have been mixed, with some expressing frustration at the notion that guests should be experts on a topic to discuss it, while others agreed with Murray, feeling that the podcast has drifted into counter-factual territory.
One of the most upvoted comments on the Joe Rogan subreddit noted, “Yes, Douglas is smug … but he was absolutely right. This show thrives when Joe either has experts discussing intriguing topics, utilizing his interviewing skills to simplify complex subjects, or when he has funny individuals on for lighthearted banter. It derails when he invites guests who lack genuine knowledge … While skepticism of the phrase ‘just trust the experts’ is common, Douglas wasn’t advocating for blind trust; he was simply suggesting that Joe should maintain the ethos of the show by balancing fringe guests with those well-versed in these issues … above all, stop using ‘just asking questions’ and ‘I’m just a comedian’ as shields.”
Rogan has historically maintained moderate political views, but last fall he endorsed Donald Trump after a lengthy interview with him on his podcast. This endorsement and the interview were deemed pivotal moments in Trump’s campaign, which ultimately returned him to the White House.
Rogan also makes an appearance in the new Netflix comedy special Kill Tony, which brings comedian Tony Hinchcliffe’s popular podcast to the streaming platform.
Stay tuned for more updates from HiCelebNews, where we bring you the latest in celebrity news and entertainment!
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