4 days ago
Joe Rogan Sparks Backlash Over New Interview—'I've Heard Enough'
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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.
