Joe Rogan has once again ignited a firestorm of controversy with his latest Netflix comedy special, “Burn the Boats.” The podcast host’s new show, which premiered Saturday, is rife with provocative remarks about COVID-19 vaccines and the LGBTQ+ community, further solidifying his divisive reputation. This special is Rogan’s first stand-up performance since 2018, and it has not gone unnoticed.
In the past, Rogan has faced significant backlash for his comments on the COVID-19 vaccine. In 2022, he was accused of spreading misinformation about the pandemic on his podcast, which led Spotify to add content advisories to episodes discussing COVID-19. Rogan addresses these criticisms head-on in his new special, quipping, “If you’re getting your vaccine advice from me, is that really my fault?”
Rogan’s controversial remarks don’t stop there. He delves into a series of conspiracy theories, saying, “After COVID, I’m like, ‘I don’t think we went to the moon. I think Michelle Obama’s got a dick.’ I think Pizzagate is real. I think there’s direct energy weapons in Antarctica.’ I’m just kidding — I don’t think Michelle Obama’s got a dick, but I believe all of that other shit.”
The comedian also takes aim at trans representation, making statements that have been widely criticized as transphobic. “I’m open-minded. I just want to know what happened,” Rogan says. “It’s almost like a pervert wizard waved a magic spell on the whole world. With a wave of this wand, you can walk into the women’s locker room with a hard dick and anybody who complains is a Nazi.” He continues, “And everyone just accepts this new reality, and it’s fucking weird. I just think we need standards. You can’t just put lipstick on and now you can shit in the women’s room!”
The backlash on social media has been swift and intense. Users on X (formerly Twitter) have expressed their disdain for Rogan’s special:
“Randomly watching Joe Rogan’s live special on Netflix and I did not know he was this unfunny. Like objectively bombing,” tweeted Spencer Baker.
“I know comedy. I love comedy. I understand comedy. The problem with Joe Rogan’s ‘comedy’ isn’t that he pushes the lines, it’s that he’s so incredibly unfunny while including unnecessary things just to get support of people who would call him a savage for this ‘joke,’” posted Chris Johnson.
“Gotta love when Joe Rogan releases a comedy special to remind the world how cringe and unfunny he really is. Two jokes in all he has covered is weed, aliens and vaccines. I’m tapping out after 9 minutes,” wrote nikolaesthetic.
“Joe Rogan doesn’t believe in vaccines and still uses Michelle Obama as a transgender talking-point. Hard to believe so many people listen to this clown,” commented Ryan Shead.
“You can agree with Joe Rogan’s views, but saying his stand up is ‘good’ or ‘funny,’ crosses a red line for me,” stated Brendan Cooney.
Rogan is no stranger to controversy. In 2022, a compilation video of him using racial slurs went viral, leading to widespread condemnation. Rogan issued an apology in a February 2022 Instagram video, calling the incident the “most regretful and shameful thing that I’ve ever had to talk about publicly.” He insisted the clips were “taken out of context” and stated, “It’s not my word to use. I am well aware of that now, but for years I used it in that manner. I never used it to be racist because I’m not racist.”
Despite the backlash, Rogan continues to maintain a substantial following. However, his latest special has undoubtedly stirred the pot, leaving many questioning the boundaries of comedy and the impact of his words on public discourse.
