Latest news with #FearFactor
Newsweek
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Joe Rogan Sparks Backlash Over New Interview—'I've Heard Enough'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Joe Rogan has received backlash online over his podcast interview with Shaka Senghor, a motivational speaker who served 19 years in prison for murder. Newsweek reached out to Rogan's representative via email for comment on Friday. Why It Matters Joe Rogan is one of the most influential podcast hosts in the world. His show, The Joe Rogan Experience, often tops Spotify's podcast charts. Over the years, the former Fear Factor host has faced criticism for hosting some controversial guests. What To Know On Tuesday, Rogan released his interview with Senghor on The Joe Rogan Experience. When Senghor was a teenager, he shot and killed a man during a Detroit drug deal and was convicted of second-degree murder. Following his release from prison in 2010, the author, whose new book How To Be Free: A Proven Guide to Escaping Life's Hidden Prisons will be released later this year, went on to become a Media Lab Director's Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and was featured on Oprah's Super Soul Sunday talk show. Senghor told Rogan that during his sentencing, prosecutors presented a "one-dimensional" version of events with "no context" regarding his life. "When the judge sentenced me, you know, he said, 15 to 40 years for the homicide and two years for the felony firearm. At 19, I thought my life was over," the now-47-year-old said. "I thought that was it." The criminal justice activist served 19 years behind bars, and "out of that 19 years, I did seven of those years in solitary confinement," Senghor told Rogan, noting that he thinks the punishment "is the most barbaric thing that we do to people in this country." While some of Rogan's viewers found Senghor's story inspirational, others took aim at the host in the comments for inviting him onto the podcast. "THOUGHT DUDE WAS GONNA TALK ABOUT HOW HE WAS WRONGFULLY CONVICTED OR SOMETHING. TURNS OUT HE JUST CAPPED A DUDE OUT OF FEAR AND TERRORIZED PEOPLE IN PRISON WTF," YouTube user @TyroneLindell wrote in a comment with 214 likes. "So joes logic is, if you have a s*** life you get 1 kill," YouTube user @MuharRajiv911 said in a comment with 161 likes. "people CAN change, but for joe to bring a murderer on to give him publicity for his book is crazy. Like what if he killed your brother? your nephew? There likely a family grieving over the person he killed. But i guess we will give him praise," YouTube user @dylanmack4162 commented. "Yea, I've heard enough. Stop giving these thugs a platform. All I hear is excuses and self victimization which often plagues the Black community. As I commented earlier saying how I lost my younger brother to a guy like this. Idc to see him breathing or him getting a second chance at life. Should be locked up forever. Plus, we all already know Joe is a horrible judgement of character. This guy will end up back in prison in due time," YouTube user @Blax1988 commented. "Another murderer? I'll pass," YouTube user @rftpkrn commented. In February 2024, Rogan had criminal justice reform advocate Sheldon Johnson on The Joe Rogan Experience. Johnson had previously spent 25 years in prison for attempted murder, and in April that same year, he was indicted on murder and other charges in connection with the deadly shooting of a man. The man's body was found dismembered in a New York City apartment, authorities said at the time, according to NBC 4 New York. Main: Joe Rogan speaks during the UFC 300 ceremonial weigh-in in Las Vegas on April 12, 2024. Inset: Shaka Senghor in Los Angeles on January 22, 2019. Main: Joe Rogan speaks during the UFC 300 ceremonial weigh-in in Las Vegas on April 12, 2024. Inset: Shaka Senghor in Los Angeles on January 22, 2019.;What People Are Saying Shaka Senghor on Instagram, following his appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience: "Honored to have been invited to have a deep conversation with @joerogan on the @joeroganexperience. We talk resilience, prison reform, solitary confinement and my latest book How To Be Free: A Proven Guide to Escaping Life's Hidden Prisons which is available for pre- order now!" Some commenters on YouTube were supportive of Rogan choosing Senghor as a guest: @Alma-c4x wrote in a comment: "This 'real' visitor is really appreciated. It's been friends and politics for the past year. Having someone who affects us interpersonally is pleasant." @CertifiedSkank wrote in a comment: "The best episodes are ones with people nobody has heard of." @mazoochic wrote in a comment: "This is a classic Rogan interview. This is what made Rogan so popular. Bringing on people with very powerful stories you never would have heard before." What Happens Next How To Be Free: A Proven Guide to Escaping Life's Hidden Prisons will be released on September 9. New episodes of The Joe Rogan Experience are released weekly on platforms like Spotify, YouTube and Apple Podcasts.
India Today
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
No retakes, no scripts: The Traitors India director on filming show real-time
With its mind games, real-time tension, and unfiltered drama, 'The Traitors India' became an unexpected hit, winning over fans and critics alike. But behind the immersive format and stylish execution was director Nishant Nayak, a reality TV veteran who took on the challenging task of adapting a globally loved format for Indian audiences. In an exclusive chat with India Today, Nishant opened up about directing the format, why there were no retakes, and how authenticity became the show's biggest What drew you to 'The Traitors' and how did you view the challenge of adapting such a globally recognised format? Were you ever sceptical?Nishant: I'm usually brought in for first seasons, and that in itself is a massive responsibility, especially when it's an international format. You're expected to stay true to the global design while also localising it for Indian sensibilities. I always start by watching the original versions, and with The Traitors, I was hooked instantly. The psychological element, the mind games, the fact that it's not your typical studio-based show, it all excited me. There's something deeply nostalgic too, like playing Mafia with friends. I wasn't sceptical as much as I was aware of how high the bar was, and that we'd need to honour the format without losing our unique flavour. Q. What was the unique challenge with 'The Traitors' as a director, especially when you couldn't interact with the cast?Nishant: That was the golden rule, no interaction with the contestants. Not even a hello. I was just this guy running around with my camera team. The only one I spoke to on set was Karan Johar, because his segments were filmed separately. It was all real-time, no retakes. If something wasn't captured, that moment was just... gone. That made it thrilling and stressful. It was like shooting a live sport, we had to rely entirely on instincts and prep. The entire crew had to be invisible, like a fly on the the review of The Traitors India here.Q. There's always a lot of speculation about reality shows, 'Is it scripted or not?' Tell us a bit about that?Nishant: In most reality shows, narratives are constructed with the help of video diaries or in hindsight commentary. As a director, you nudge contestants to articulate what's happening for the edit. That's the only scripting - editorial framing. But The Traitors didn't even allow that. This was like capturing a cricket match, you film it as it happens and then reverse-engineer the story in post. You build the edit backward from the outcome. So, the show is as authentic as it gets. No second takes, no narrative You've worked on a wide range of formats - from 'Shark Tank' to 'Fear Factor'. What was it like working on something this layered and unpredictable?Nishant: Every format teaches you something. Here, the prep was intense because we were dealing with elements of captivity (Bigg Boss), stunts (Fear Factor), and live decision-making. I leaned on my experiences, and most importantly, on my team. We handpicked the best - from DOPs to camera ops - people who could anticipate action before it happened. Like that frame where a contestant threw something into the pond? It looked choreographed, but it wasn't. It was just perfect teamwork and readiness. I always made Plan A, B, and C - and sometimes D - because in India, delays are inevitable. You adapt.Q. Did you have a favourite contestant from 'The Traitors'?Nishant: (laughs) As a director, I had to stay neutral. But as an audience member? Elnaz was a standout. She understood the game and executed it with precision, especially that axe mission. Apoorva was wonderfully unfiltered. Uorfi, coming from a prior reality show, knew how to read the tempo and respond. I also appreciated how no one was nasty, there was strategy, but no toxicity. That's rare in reality TV, and it was refreshing to Finally, if you could tweak one thing next season, what would it be?Nishant: I'd love for a traitor to win, honestly. I think it happened in one season of 'The Traitors UK'. Oh gosh, how thrilling that was!- EndsMust Watch
Newsweek
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Joe Rogan's 'Conspiracies' Remark Takes Off Online
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Joe Rogan's remark about "conspiracies" has gone viral on social media. Newsweek reached out to Rogan's representative via email for comment on Thursday. The Context Rogan, 57, is the host of The Joe Rogan Experience, one of the top podcasts in the world. It was launched in 2009 and has 2,347 episodes to date. Over the years, Rogan has faced criticism for his controversial guests and has been accused of spreading misinformation. The comedian got his start as a sitcom star in the 1990s with roles on Hardball and NewsRadio and later hosted the stunt reality TV show Fear Factor. Joe Rogan performs during his appearance at The Ice House Comedy Club on June 24, 2015, in Pasadena, California. Joe Rogan performs during his appearance at The Ice House Comedy Club on June 24, 2015, in Pasadena, California. Michael Schwartz/WireImage What To Know On Wednesday, Rogan took to X, formerly Twitter, to share his thoughts on conspiracies. "Shout out to all the people that still don't believe in conspiracies," the UFC commentator said. "Your ability to stick to your guns is inspiring." At the time of publication, his remark racked up more than 15 million views, 238,000 likes and over 9,000 comments. Shout out to all the people that still don't believe in conspiracies. Your ability to stick to your guns is inspiring. — Joe Rogan (@joerogan) July 8, 2025 In 2022, Rogan was embroiled in a controversy with Spotify over his stance on COVID-19 and vaccines. The streaming service added a content advisory to all podcast episodes after artists like Neil Young and Joni Mitchell said they would be removing their music. In a video addressing the discourse at the time, Rogan apologized to Spotify. "I want to thank Spotify for being so supportive during this time, and I'm very sorry that this is happening to them and that they're taking so much from it," he said, per The Guardian. "I am gonna do my best in the future to balance things out." What People Are Saying In April, Rogan was called out by British commentator Douglas Murray for pushing conspiracy theories: "If you throw a lot of s*** out there, there's some point at which [saying] 'I'm just raising questions' is not a valid thing. You're not raising questions. You're not asking questions. You're telling people something...I feel you've opened the door to quite a lot of people. You've now got a big platform and have been throwing out counter-historical stuff but a very dangerous kind." Comedian Sam Morril accused Rogan of sharing a "conspiracy" about President Donald Trump's assassination attempt during The Joe Rogan Experience in July 2024. In response, Rogan cited the assassination of President John F. Kennedy: "Listen, conspiracies are real. I mean, whatever the f*** happened in Dallas, Texas, in 1963, it's not what they tell you." What Happens Next New episodes of The Joe Rogan Experience are released weekly on platforms like YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Daily Mail
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Joe Rogan is roasted after '90s era stand-up comedy set resurfaces as fans are shocked by what he looked like
Joe Rogan is used to calling brutal knockouts as commentator for the UFC but now he was the one on the receiving end of several unanswered hits. An early 1990s era stand-up comedy set by the now 57-year-old media personality - who was lambasted a Hollywood star - went viral on the internet recently and was up for debate on several issues including his funniness, stage presence, fashion sense, and even his looks. A Joe Rogan Experience podcast fan account took to X (formally Twitter) posted a vintage clip of Rogan performing a few jokes about an old girlfriend trying to get him to commit to marriage as it now has over 8million views. As the Fear Factor host had a head of hair and had a thinner frame than he does currently, some fans were flabbergasted by how he looked. 'Bro was handsome?' one wrote while another commenter said: 'He had HAIR?!?!' An X user said: 'how did he go from looking like Ben Affleck to looking like a dry roasted peanut ?' An early 1990s era stand-up comedy set by the now 57-year-old media personalitywent viral on the internet recently and was up for debate on several issues including his funniness, stage presence, fashion sense, and even his looks As Joe sported a black blazer with shoulder pads, many roasted his fashion sense. 'Wearing grandma's shoulder pads [rolling on the floor while laughing emoji],' one said while another posted: 'Nice shoulder pads queen.' Another skewered the entire look as they said: 'Are those shoulder pads? And blazer over a v-neck?' The most relentless fans were, however, seemed to be regarding his actual comedy skill and joke writing ability. One said: 'He has never been funny. Love Rogan but comedy isn't his strong suit.' 'Joe Rogan might honestly be the worst comedian of all time,' an unrelenting fan said and a second posted: 'He has never been funny. Love Rogan but comedy isn't his strong suit.' Another social media user blasted his entire career with a clever dig. They wrote: 'Good thing he found his niche as a terrible podcaster so we don't have to suffer through his terrible stand up.' A Joe Rogan Experience podcast fan account took to X (formally Twitter ) posted a vintage clip of Rogan performing a few jokes about an old girlfriend trying to get him to commit to marriage as it now has over 8million views Joe Rogan doing stand-up comedy in the early 90s. — Joe Rogan Podcast News (@joeroganhq) July 1, 2025 The comments section of the post was filled with many who trashed his looks, his fashion sense, and most harshly, his stand-up comedy prowess Even fans of Rogan listed out reasons why they loved him but his stand-up comedy act was not one of them. A user wrote: 'If there's one person that is awful at Comedy it's Rogan. 'Best Podcaster ever. Great commentator. Great at martial arts. Great guy. Absolutely diabolical at comedy.' Joe began his career as a stand-up comedian performing in Boston's comedy clubs in 1988. He later moved to Los Angeles in 1994 where he became a staple at the iconic The Comedy Store. Rogan went on to sign an exclusive developmental deal with Disney and appeared on television shows Hardball and NewsRadio. A former taekwondo black belt and amateur kickboxer, Rogan began his work for premier Mixed Martial Arts league the UFC in 2000 when the sport was still outlawed in most US states. In 2000 he made his name as host of extreme game show Fear Factor until 2006. In 2009, he launched The Joe Rogan Experience podcast very early on in the medium and it has since become the biggest podcast in the world. Not only has it reached success in the artform but it has also been a monetary success with Spotify earning exclusive rights for $200million in 2020. Then last year Rogan
Miami Herald
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Joe Rogan offers blunt 2-word solution to fix America
Former "Fear Factor" host and current podcast superstar Joe Rogan has played a far bigger role in shaping the politics of this country than many people might imagine a stand-up comedian and UFC commentator would. Joe Rogan famously interviewed President Trump on The Joe Rogan Experience in the lead-up to the 2024 election before endorsing #47, in large part because he said Elon Musk made such a convincing case for him. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter Going MAGA was a big shift for Rogan, who had endorsed Democratic Socialist Bernie Sanders in the 2020 primaries. Now it appears that Rogan may be suffering some buyer's remorse, as he's made comments in recent weeks suggesting he's not on board with some of President Trump's actions regarding deportations. It remains to be seen whether Rogan continues to support MAGA candidates or if liberals can bring him back into the fold. Many on the left have actually suggested a liberal Joe Rogan could be part of the key to winning back the support of men and restoring the Democrats to power. In the meantime, however, Rogan continues to share his opinion on key political issues. In a conversation with Roman Yampolskiy in Episode #2345 of The Joe Rogan Experience, Rogan had an unconventional suggestion for how to fix America, or at least how to fix the country's troubled politics. Image source: NBCUniversal via Getty Images Rogan offered his suggestion on how to solve America's political issues as part of a conversation on whether lawmakers should be using tax dollars to support research into anti-aging technologies and initiatives. His guest suggested that we keep electing older people to Congress to send the message that anti-aging is something to invest in, but politicians don't take the bait. Rogan's reply, however, made clear that the podcaster is not comfortable with Congress doing anything at all. Related: Joe Rogan brings back guest that caused massive Spotify backlash "The problem is the type of people that want to be politicians," Rogan said. "That is not the type of people that you really want running anything." Of course, we do need someone to make laws, so that's where Rogan's solution comes in. Rogan made a blunt two-word suggestion that he believes would be a far better way to select the country's leaders: "involuntary politicians." Rogan, in his conversation with Yampolskiy, said the very fact that current leaders wanted to take on their roles makes them ill-suited for the positions. Instead, Rogan believes that highly intelligent but benevolent people should be drafted into service as lawmakers, instead of those who choose to run for office. "Involuntary," he reiterated. "Instead of voluntary politicians, because then you're only going to get sociopaths." Related: Joe Rogan sounds the alarm on dangerous social media trend Of course, this idea would be difficult or impossible to put into practice, because the Constitution is set up for politicians to be elected, rather than drafted, and no one can be made to serve in political office. There would also likely be substantial disagreement on who would be an appropriate "benevolent, intelligent" person to hold office. Still, Rogan's suggestion here taps into the widespread distrust so many people have for traditional politicians. The reality is that the Congressional approval rating has hovered under 30% for decades, with very limited exceptions. Many Americans simply feel their economic concerns are not being heard. More Retail: Walmart CEO sounds alarm on a big problem for customersTarget makes a change that might scare Walmart, CostcoTop investor takes firm stance on troubled retail brandWalmart and Costco making major change affecting all customers Following Rogan's advice and bringing in political "outsiders," especially those who don't want the power, is a suggestion many are likely to applaud, even if impractical. Related: Veteran fund manager unveils eye-popping S&P 500 forecast The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
