Embattled podcaster Joe Rogan addressed his recent controversies and answered some questions from audience members during a stand-up comedy routine in Austin, Texas, Tuesday. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the event occurred at the Vulcan Gas Company.
It also marked the first time that Rogan had been seen in public since a compilation video was tweeted out last weekend of him using the n-word. Rogan described what he felt watching the video for the first time.
“Somebody made a compilation of every time I said that word over 14 years, and they put it on YouTube, and it turned out that was racist as f**k Even to me!” Rogan said.
“I’m me, and I’m watching it saying, ‘Stop saying it!’ I put my cursor over the video, and I’m like, ‘Four more minutes?!’”
In addition to his comedy routine, Rogan asked about his future and whether he’s considering a $100 million deal to join the online social media platform Rumble.
“No, Spotify has hung in with me inexplicably; let’s see what happens,” he said.
Rogan dismissed any questions about anti-vaccination rhetoric on his podcasts. “If you’re taking vaccine advice from me, is that really my fault?” Rogan asked.
“What dumb shit were you about to do when my stupid idea sounded better? ‘You know that dude who made people eat animal dicks on TV? How does he feel about medicine?’ If you want my advice, don’t take my advice.”
Rogan reiterated that the video that surfaced of him using the n-word is about politics and nothing else.
“This is a political hit job. They’re taking all this stuff I’ve ever said that’s wrong and smushing it all together. It’s good because it makes me address some stuff that I really wish wasn’t out there.”
