Premium

Joe Rogan Will Be Just Fine

AP Photo/Gregory Payan

With all the ongoing hubbub and fake outrage over comedian and podcaster Joe Rogan, I think it is important to note that despite all that the left is doing to end his career, they are going to fail miserably. It can sometimes be tempting to view the left as an all-consuming Leviathan that destroys all in its path. But this isn’t the case, and people like Rogan are one of several who can make the monster bleed.

The Cancel Culture Community is still after the podcaster, ever since he had the temerity to have a couple guests on his show who did not discuss COVID-19 and vaccines in a way that is approved by the left-wing intelligentsia. After their first salvo bounced off Rogan’s armor, they went with the racial narrative, and it seems too many of us on the right think this might end up becoming his Achilles heel for some reason.

The bottom line is that like comedian Dave Chappelle, Rogan is uncancelable. Let me tell you why.

For starters, let’s talk about Spotify, the platform that cut a $100,000 deal in 2020 to exclusively host Rogan’s podcast. The Wall Street Journal reported:

In 2021, Mr. Rogan’s show was the most-listened-to podcast every month in more than 30 markets, including in the U.S., said a person familiar with the matter. Mr. Rogan’s listeners have grown by 75% from the time he joined Spotify’s platform in September 2020 to December 2021, this person said.

Both Spotify and Rogan benefit immensely from their relationship. While the podcaster’s audience grew while on the platform, he already had a considerable audience that likely resulted in millions of new users using the platform to listen to him.

To put it simply, bowing to the mob might be more costly for Spotify than sticking by him. Indeed, even when artists like Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, India.Arie and other musicians declared they wished to remove their music from the platform, it was clear this would not be a big enough loss to cow the company into submission.

Spotify will never fire Joe Rogan.

But, let’s say this is one of those rare occasions where I’m wrong. Even if Spotify lost their spine and decided to acquiesce to the woke crowd, Rogan would still be fine. If he were forced to leave the platform, his fan base, which is considerable, would simply follow him to whichever company he chooses. He was already doing well before Spotify, and he will do fine after. The comedian has amassed a loyal following and no amount of race-baiting is going to take away his audience.

Last, but certainly not least, Rogan is his own boss. He exemplifies Jay-Z’s famous line: “I’m not a businessman, I’m a business, man.” (Note the punctuation)

Let’s say no platform wanted to host him. Yes, we know that’s not the case because Rumble has already offered $100,000 to the podcaster to host his content.

But even if this hadn’t occurred, Rogan could easily build his own platform. It wouldn’t take much, given that he is already a wealthy man. Like I said previously, his audience, which includes myself, would listen to him wherever he lands.

And this, dear reader, is why the left is so desperate to cancel Joe Rogan, even though it has become clear that this is an even goofier version of Don Quixote tilting at windmills. The comedian has built his own following over the years he has been active, and he answers to no one, least of all the crybullies on the left who are upset that he does use his platform to promote their agenda.

Joe Rogan does not have to play by their rules. He does not have a burning need to join the Democrats’ Ministry of Propaganda. He’s just a guy who wants to have conversations with different people on different topics. The podcaster has no problem with engaging with people who have differing beliefs on the issue of the day. His only agenda is having interesting discussions, meaning he talks to who he wants, when he wants.

And there is absolutely nothing anybody can do about it.

The left can’t shame, bully, or cajole Rogan into falling in line, and this reality is excruciating to them. People like him are perpetual thorns in their side. The difference is that they cannot remove this particular thorn. But this will not stop them from trying – and failing.

Recommended

Trending on RedState Videos