Photo Credit: Austin Distel
The Joe Rogan Experience podcast studio is shut down this week after a positive coronavirus case.
Jamie Vernon tested positive for COVID-19, with Rogan making the announcement via Instagram. Jamie is the often un-seen co-host and producer of the podcast, responsible for retrieving relevant content. Rogan says production will resume after everybody gets the all-clear from their doctors.
“All podcasts are canceled this week. Jamie Vernon tested positive for COVID-19. I tested negative, and the rest of the staff tested negative, but we’re shutting everything down until we get an all-clear from our doctor. I was out of town last week, and the shows that aired had all been previously recorded, so I haven’t had any contact with Jamie in the past nine days, except for briefly today,” Rogan says on Instagram.
“I’m staying away from everyone and being tested every day until I know I’m in the clear. I’ll keep you folks posted as to when the show will resume.”
Rogan taking things seriously is refreshing, considering he has spent much of this year downplaying the virus. Comedian Bill Burr took Rogan to task for his cavalier attitude towards mask-wearing.
“I’m not going to sit here with no medical degree, listening to you with no medical degree, with an American flag behind you, smoking a cigar, acting like we know what’s up better than the CDC,” Burr told Rogan after he criticized those wearing masks.
The Joe Rogan podcast shutdown comes just days before a highly-anticipated Kanye West interview.
Rogan was scheduled to interview Kanye this Friday, but that won’t be happening. It’s unclear if Rogan will be able to score another spot with the controversial rapper-turned-presidential-candidate.
In recent weeks, Kanye West has falsely claimed he is beating both Joe Biden and Donald Trump in Kentucky. He’s only on the ballot in 12 states, but many of those appearances may net him an investigation on the grounds of electoral fraud. A recent report from the Federal Election Commission reveals that Kanye has only raised $2,782 for his campaign. He’s spent around $9 million of his own money financing the campaign.
“Without these major cash injections, it appears the rapper wouldn’t have much capital to work with as in total he’s only received $11,472.66 in contributions as of August, plus $2,782 raised in September,” a report estimates. Kanye’s entirely self-financed campaign probably isn’t something he wants to invite questions about on a show like Rogan’s.
I thought the virus was a hoax to all his idiot listeners. Well, maybe, just maybe, it isn’t.
Morons
You’re right. First time I’ve agreed with you. Ha ha!
He’s never called it a hoax but he does think lockdowns are disastrous public policy and introduce far more extreme issues than COVID transmission (economic depression, increased suicides, domestic violence, myriad of other health problems).
Long term lockdowns can have a negative effect on the mental health of some. Reality is, had the entire country done a lockdown for one simple, fucking month early on with this pandemic, followed by rules/guidelines that kept people well (and people actually followed them), we would be in great shape and extended lockdowns wouldn’t have been needed. But our lack of leadership in this country fouled that up royally and continues to do so. Businesses and industries are closing/failing, millions are out of jobs, the government is printing money faster than ever to add ‘stimulus’ (a short term bandaid) and people are still dying daily or getting sick with long-lasting health conditions These are not facts that can be disputed or denied. Trump screwed America bigly.