Weeks after the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, podcaster Joe Rogan voiced dismay over people celebrating Kirk’s death. In one of the episodes of the podcast, Rogan said that people were cheering when Kirk died and asked, “What the f*ck is wrong?”“The Charlie Kirk thing f—— opened up my eyes,” Rogan said.

“I never expected so many people would celebrate that man’s murder.” Brandon Coleman, the vocalist of Red Clay Strays, agreed, adding, “That is evil.” Rogan continued, “It’s just bizarre, like, normal people that, I think, think they’re good people, and they think, they genuinely think, that guy was a bad guy. And I don’t think they’re right. And I think they were indoctrinated. And I don’t agree with everything that Charlie Kirk said or did.” Coleman responded, “I don’t care if he was a bad guy or not.” Rogan replied, “He’s not a bad guy.” Coleman further stated, “I don’t want to see anybody die.” Reflecting on Kirk’s untimely death, Rogan noted that Kirk was known for his presence on college campuses and debates, which “infuriated people because they felt like this guy is going against the progress that was being made in society.” Rogan emphasised that one of the most troubling aspects of the incident was that “perfectly normal people celebrated the murder of a young man because they did not like what he had to say.” “I don’t think some of the things he said he should have said,” Rogan remarked, “but the fact that people were cheering when he died — normal people, housewives, moms, like f—— people working at banks, people working at various industries — celebrating a man getting shot in front of his kids in the front of the whole world. Like what the f— is wrong with us?” He added, “And that’s why, like, when this Charlie Kirk thing happens, there’s a giant blowback. And most people recognise like, ‘Hey, as a collective, as a society, this is not right.’ Regardless of whoever that person is, whether that person’s on the left or the right, they just got shot in front of the whole world. It’s not a thing to celebrate ever.” Rogan also criticised what he perceives as hypocrisy, stating it was “disturbing that people on the left who claim to be progressive, compassionate and inclusive were openly celebrating gun violence and public executions.”