What’s New
Joe Rogan during Wednesday’s episode of his popular podcast defended President-elect Donald Trump’s controversial comment on the Access Hollywood tape, saying “Guys talk like that” and it’s all “for fun.”
Why It Matters
Ahead of the 2016 election, a tape of Trump and Billy Bush, then host of Access Hollywood, having an inappropriate conversation about women on their way to film an episode of the show in 2005 was leaked.
The Washington Post published the audio recording on October 7, 2016, less than a month before the presidential election. The audio recording has Trump saying that as a celebrity he was able to “grab” women by their genitalia, which was widely condemned as an inappropriate way to discuss women, especially as a presidential candidate.
Trump, however, said the recording was simply “locker room banter” and did not accurately reflect the way he treats women. He also said, “I said it, I was wrong and I apologize.” Shortly after the tape’s release, Trump won the presidential election against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2016.
AP Photo/Gregory Payan
What To Know
While speaking with former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich about a lewd comment Blagojevich had made, Rogan likened it to Trump’s controversial remark about grabbing women’s genitals.
“Well, that’s the same thing as like the grab ’em by the p**** comment,” Rogan said to Blagojevich on his podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience. “Guys talk like that all the time for fun,” Rogan said, adding, “It’s what guys do and they know that the other person doesn’t mean it, that’s why it’s funny to say.”
Blagojevich, who an Illinois jury found guilty on 17 felony counts in 2010, including wire fraud, conspiracy and attempted extortion, replied, “And let’s face it, most of us like that stuff.”
Blagojevich went on to recount hearing about the tape while he was in prison, saying it was a “slimy thing to do to Trump” right before the election.
“I think people have to realize that so many of these things that are taken out of context are taken outta context for a reason. It is to mislead the public and prejudice them against things,” he said.
Rogan added, “The context aspect of it is very important because there is such a difference between a statement and someone tapping a phone while people are having a private conversation talking and sh**.”
Trump commuted Blagojevich’s 14-year prison sentence, of which he served eight, in February 2020.
Just ahead of the election, Rogan endorsed Trump for the White House.
What Happens Next
Rogan’s episodes are typically released several times a week.
