In a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience featuring comedian Andrew Santino, Joe Rogan found himself in the peculiar position of defending Jimmy Kimmel while simultaneously critiquing the late-night host’s approach to political commentary. The discussion centered around Kimmel’s recent suspension and subsequent return to ABC following controversial remarks about the Charlie Kirk shooting.
Rogan, who has known Kimmel personally and appeared on his show, expressed genuine concern for the comedian during his brief suspension. “Jimmy’s a good guy. He’s a smart guy. He’s a funny guy,” Rogan stated, recalling Kimmel’s earlier work including the beloved prank film ‘Windy City Heat.’
However, Rogan couldn’t resist pointing out what he sees as Kimmel’s fundamental misstep in recent years. The podcast host argued that Kimmel and other late-night hosts have become too politically entrenched.
“I think they got so political and they had to ground themselves in it so much that it took away from how fun those shows could be,” Rogan explained to Santino.
The crux of Rogan’s criticism lies in what he perceives as Kimmel’s inconsistent application of principles. He referenced previous instances where Kimmel celebrated the firing of Tucker Carlson and supported Roseanne Barr’s dismissal, suggesting these positions created a problematic precedent. “It’s kind of ironically he celebrated and in his monologue when Tucker Carlson got fired. It’s kind of a problem,” Rogan observed.
Most troubling to Rogan was Kimmel’s past joke about unvaccinated people not deserving hospital care. While acknowledging it was meant as comedy, Rogan noted the stark contrast between that sentiment and the current calls for protection of Kimmel’s free speech rights.
Despite these criticisms, Rogan remained firm in his opposition to government interference in comedy and free speech. “I definitely don’t think that the government should be involved ever in dictating what a comedian can or cannot say in a monologue. That’s f**king crazy,” he declared.
