Joe Rogan is facing backlash for defending Kanye West’s ‘catchy’ Nazi-inspired new music.
The podcaster praised the 47-year-old rapper’s music making abilities and argued against banning his song called ‘Heil Hitler,’ on Tuesday’s episode of The Joe Rogan Experience.
In the song, West refers to himself as a Nazi and plays audio of Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, whose reign of terror led to the murder of six-million Jews in the Holocaust.
The rapper, also known as Ye, took X on May 8 to share the clip, which showed a group of shirtless black males draped in animal skins professing their love for Hitler.
His chosen day to release the song was also of significance because it fell on VE Day – the 80 year anniversary of when fighting against Nazi Germany in Europe came to an end.
Rogan discussed the song with comedian Tom Segura saying, ‘first of all, [it’s] kind of catchy.’
While he condemned antisemitism, Rogan argued the song should not be banned because it will give more power to Ye.
‘I don’t think it’s a good thing to say, I don’t say it. I certainly don’t think, I don’t think any racism is good. I don’t think antisemitism is good.. but there is a benefit to just letting people talk,’ Rogan said.
Joe Rogan praised Kayne West’s music making abilities and argued against banning his song called ‘Heil Hitler’
In the song, West refers to himself as a Nazi and plays audio of Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, whose reign of terror led to the murder of six-million Jews in the Holocaust
‘If you ban it, then people want to hear it more, and then it becomes more popular, and then it kind of supports what he says, which is that there’s this concerted effort, if you talk about Jewish people, that they’re going to remove you from everything.’
Critics slammed Rogan for calling a song that praises Hitler ‘catchy’ and arguing it should not be banned.
‘Nothing about Hitler is “kinda catchy,” one person said. ‘What the Hell is wrong with this man?’ said another.
‘Makes me sick. I’m sorry @joerogan, but you could not be more off base on this. Making fun of people/making jokes is one thing. Comedy is comedy, but this is a song praising a genocidal maniac who nearly wiped out every Jew on Earth,’ a third person said.
‘Why don’t they understand how vile this is? Rogan wants people going round singing Heil Hitler? wtf is wrong with him,’ added a fourth.
‘This is literally a disease. No, Joe Rogan. Kanye’s Hiel Hitler is not catchy. Just say you have a problem with Jews and move on. This is getting boring,’ said a fifth.
Rogan, who is a free speech absolutist, recently clashed with British political commentator Douglas Murray after he challenged him over the guests he brings on his show to discuss alternative theories about history and geopolitical.
The podcaster denied that he was treating some of his guests provide ‘alternative theories’ as serious historians.
West released the song on VE Day – the 80 year anniversary of when fighting against Nazi Germany in Europe came to an end
Rogan rehashed the debate last week with his guest Cameron Hanes, a fellow podcaster and renowned outdoorsman.
Rogan admonished Murray for attacking the qualifications of his guests and claimed the historian uses ‘tactics’ and not ‘facts’ in his argument.
‘This idea that an expert, like Douglas Murray, I love him dearly, I think he’s a brilliant man, [but] he’s got a degree in history. Or, excuse me, he’s got a degree in English. Bachelor’s degree,’ Rogan said.
‘He’s not an expert either. Unless we’re talking about Shakespeare. Shut the f**k up. Because you’re not an expert either. You know what I mean?’
