Joe Rogan fires back at critics: ‘I at least try to be honest about what I’m saying’

The popular podcast host and MMA commentator faced a severe backlash for his remarks on his show, in which he appeared to downplay the necessity for young people to obtain the coronavirus vaccination. His remarks even earned him a rebuke from Dr. Anthony Fauci and accusations that he is “anti-vax.”

On his podcast on Tuesday, Rogan said that both his children got COVID-19 and did it just fine, seemingly arguing that he would not recommend the vaccine to young people.

“But if you’re like 21 years old, and you say to me, ‘Should I get vaccinated?’ I’ll go, ‘No.’ Are you healthy? Are you a healthy person? Like, look, don’t do anything stupid, but you should take care of yourself,” Rogen said. “You should — if you’re a healthy person, and you’re exercising all the time, and you’re young, and you’re eating well, like, I don’t think you need to worry about this,” he said.

In an episode of the Joe Rogan Experience on Thursday, the host clarified his remarks, stating that young people could still spread the virus despite being at low risk of death.

“I am not an anti-vax person,” Rogan said. “In fact, I said I believe they are safe and I encourage many people to take them. I just said if you’re a young, healthy person, you don’t need it. Their argument was you need it for other people. But that’s a different conversation. And yes, that makes sense.”

Rogan slammed journalists who propagated claims that he was opposed to vaccinations, who blew his remarks out of proportion, as “clickbait media.”

“I am not a doctor,” said Rogan. “I am a f*cking moron. I am a cage-fighting commentator. I am not a respected source of information, even for me. But I at least try to be honest about what I’m saying,” he said.

It’s worth noting that Rogan’s show is about talking through ideas. Listeners don’t listen to it because it’s authoritative.

The CDC states:

CDC recommends you get vaccinated for COVID-19 as soon as you are eligible.

[…]

Over 230 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine were administered in the United States from December 14, 2020, through April 26, 2021.

COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. COVID-19 vaccines were evaluated in tens of thousands of participants in clinical trials. The vaccines met FDA’s rigorous scientific standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality needed to support emergency use authorization (EUA).