‘That was racist as f***’: Joe Rogan addresses controversies in stand-up set

Joe Rogan has publicly addressed his podcast controversies again, this time in-front of a crowd at his stand up show.

It comes after Rogan made his second apology of 2022, following the release of a compilation clip of instances where he has used a racial slur on his podcast.

The discovery prompted the removal of around 70 episodes of his show.

Speaking at a comedy show in Austin, Texas, on Tuesday night, he told fans: “I used to say it if [I was talking about] a Richard Pryor bit or something, I would say it in context.

“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*** – even to me!

“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?!'”

Rogan also talked about the controversy surrounding what many deem to be his anti-vaccination stance.

He told the crowd: “I talk s*** for a living – that’s why this is so baffling to me.

“If you’re taking vaccine advice from me, is that really my fault? What dumb s*** were you about to do when my stupid idea sounded better?”

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Spotify, which has an exclusive deal with the comedian, has said it will stick with its star podcaster, despite the onslaught of criticism Rogan has received in the last few weeks.

Its chief executive, Daniel Ek, told staff: “While I strongly condemn what Joe has said, and I agree with his decision, to remove past episodes from our platform, I realise some will want more.

“And I want to make one point very clear – I do not believe that silencing Joe is the answer.”

Neil Young and Joni Mitchell are among the artists that have taken their music off Spotify in protest at Rogan’s presence on the platform.