What is the end result of holding people accountable for their actions? According to Joe Rogan, it'd be the silencing of straight White men over their privilege.
On an episode of his podcast, which is the most listened to show on most podcasting platforms, Rogan claimed "you can never be woke enough" and eventually things would get to the point where "straight White men are not allowed to talk."
This obviously left many online incredulous at his claim.
Joe Rogan on "woke culture"pic.twitter.com/2LLaEWFRLX— Viral Sports (@Viral Sports) 1621186723
BREAKING: Straight white man Joe Rogan, who hosts one of the most popular podcasts in the world, warns that due to "woke" culture "straight white men are not allowed to talk."— James Fell (@James Fell) 1621351809
No they're not. Another stupid comment by Joe Rogan. If that were the case, he wouldn't have a show.— David Veloz (@David Veloz) 1621344235
My disdain for Joe Rogan grows by the day. No, straight white men aren't being silence even though some days I wish they were.https://twitter.com/TPostMillennial/status/1394314720434393092\u00a0\u2026— Adam (@Adam) 1621371070
He said "white men are being silenced" on his own podcast, which was downloaded 190 million times a month, and for which he is paid one hundred million dollars.https://www.marketwatch.com/story/joe-rogan-who-makes-100-million-to-talk-on-a-podcast-says-straight-white-men-are-being-silenced-by-woke-culture-11621360021?siteid=yhoof2\u00a0\u2026— Ken Tremendous (@Ken Tremendous) 1621372935
Rogan, who last year signed a $100 million contract with Spotify that ensures his podcast will be on the air and heard for years, lamented cancel culture silencing people like him.
He said:
"You can never be woke enough that's the problem, it keeps going. It keeps going further and further down the line and if you get to the point where you capitulate and you agree to all these demands it'll eventually get to where straight white men are not allowed to talk because it's your privilege to express yourself when other people of color have been silenced throughout history."
And just to hammer the point home that he wasn't joking, he said:
"I'm not joking. It really will get there."
The idea of "cancel culture" as some boogieman coming to end people's careers has been an ongoing discussion for some time. While some might see it as an imminent threat coming for your ability to speak, others see it as the logical consequence of a person's actions.
If so, is there another reason Rogan might have for frothing the fear in people over being canceled?
Internet commenters say yes.
joe rogan\u2019s grift is a microcosm of US foreign policy \n\n1. create a threat that doesn\u2019t exist \n\n2. capitalize off of ithttps://twitter.com/DailyCaller/status/1394299238616600580\u00a0\u2026— hyper relevisation (@hyper relevisation) 1621350989
When guys like Joe Rogan say they won\u2019t be allowed to speak, what they means is \u201cI\u2019m used to being the oppressor, and I haven\u2019t ever questioned it, so other people getting more rights feels like an attack on me\u201d— Read Mutual Aid by Dean Spade (@Read Mutual Aid by Dean Spade) 1621349891
Respectfully, I would argue that not being allowed to talk is the exact opposite of the problem joe rogan haspic.twitter.com/JR7BrmXjby— Becca Lewis (@Becca Lewis) 1621306489
The biggest issue with Joe Rogan isn't bigotry or toxic masculinity or whatever, it's that he constantly holds himself out as curious in a diverse array of perspectives, yet only ever brings on guests that agree w/ his POV or aren't well-versed/interested enough to challenge it.— Q. Anthony (FKA Andray Domise) \ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf8 (@Q. Anthony (FKA Andray Domise) \ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf8) 1621349225
Rogan is no stranger to controversy, and one might even say he thrives on it. Just recently, he came under fire for suggesting a healthy 21-year-old shouldn't bother getting the vaccine for the current pandemic.
After being criticized, Rogan walked back his comments, saying he agrees with the argument young, healthy people should get the vaccine to prevent the spread to other people, "but that's a different argument."
He continued by stressing he is not a doctor and shouldn't be listened to for scientific advice.
The idea a man who got $100 million for his podcast, and can platform pretty much anyone at any time he chooses would complain about being silenced became a huge joke.
The irony was apparently lost on Rogan.
I never knew Joe Rogan was, well, like this. He seemed okay when he hosted that show where people ate bugs.— mike freeman (@mike freeman) 1621292126
I've said it a hundred times and I'll continue saying it until people realize it's the truth:\n\n"Joe Rogan is Oprah for Incels"pic.twitter.com/QcvTu6YBJz— Just George Oh \ud83c\udf65 (@Just George Oh \ud83c\udf65) 1621353613
I met a man who told me he doesn\u2019t know anything about Joe Rogan beyond fear factor. I\u2019ve never been more aroused.— Mala (@Mala) 1621305187
Rogan's controversy extends past himself and to his guests, which have included such controversial figures as Gavin McInnes, the founder of the Proud Boys, and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones.