After days of conspicuous silence while the Jimmy Kimmel controversy exploded across social media, Joe Rogan finally emerged from what he claimed was an extended hunting expedition to address the situation. But his response has left many wondering if he said anything meaningful at all.
The UFC commentator and podcasting giant took to Instagram with a characteristically evasive statement: “I was elk hunting in the mountains all week with very limited service, so I missed out on all the fun screeching about the Jimmy Kimmel situation. My brother @andrewschulz nailed it all beautifully. I’ll be back to podcasting on Monday and we’ll go over it all.”
The timing of Rogan’s wilderness retreat raised eyebrows among his followers, many of whom had flooded his social media demanding he defend free speech principles he’s championed in the past. Instead of offering his own commentary on ABC’s decision to pull Kimmel’s show following controversial remarks about the Charlie Kirk shooting, Rogan simply amplified comedian Andrew Schultz’s take on the matter.
Schultz, recording an emergency episode of his Flagrant podcast, had called the situation “a big attack on free speech” and expressed concern about government pressure influencing the network’s decision.
“This seems like the FCC is putting pressure on them,” Schultz explained, noting how FCC Chairman Brendan Carr had warned that Kimmel should face consequences for his statements.
The comedian had also emphasized a crucial distinction: “I don’t agree with what he said. I don’t like what he said. He should be allowed to say it.”
Rogan’s decision to simply endorse Schultz’s analysis rather than offer his own perspective struck many as uncharacteristic for someone who has built his brand on lengthy, unfiltered discussions about controversial topics.
The controversy stems from Kimmel’s Monday monologue, where he suggested MAGA supporters were falsely characterizing shooter Tyler Robinson as a leftist.
“We hit some new lows over the weekend,” Kimmel had said, adding that the MAGA gang was “desperately trying to characterize” Robinson as “anything other than one of them,” despite investigators describing the suspect as having a “leftist ideology.”
The fallout was swift and severe. ABC pulled the show indefinitely, with Kimmel reportedly refusing to issue a public apology. Major broadcasting affiliates, including some seeking FCC approval for mergers worth billions, quickly distanced themselves from the program.
What makes Rogan’s muted response particularly notable is the stark contrast to his typical approach to free speech controversies. The podcaster has previously mounted passionate defenses of comedians and commentators facing censorship, often dedicating entire episodes to dissecting the implications of such incidents.
Meanwhile, Kimmel remains in negotiations with Disney and ABC about his show’s future, with reports suggesting “deep discussions” are underway. The host has admitted to previous clashes with network executives over political content, acknowledging that they once asked him to “dial it back” during Disney’s pursuit of Fox.
