Andrew Yang, a former Democratic presidential candidate, sent out a tweet this past Sunday stating his support of controversial yet popular podcast host Joe Rogan. Just a few hours after the post, Yang took down his post in the wake of extreme left-wing backlash over his post and replaced the original post with an apology thread on Twitter seeking forgiveness for supposedly hurting people.
“I don’t think Joe Rogan is a racist – the man interacts with and works with black people literally all of the time,” stated Yang in his first Twitter post.
“Do I know black friends of Joe’s who would swear by him? Yes I do,” he tacked on.
Yang, who has been a guest on Rogan’s podcast in the past, was the target of the left-wing cancel culture of Twitter, Twitchy reported. One major note came from Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison as he replied to Yang, “Dude… seriously?! You joking right Andrew? Is that now the new defining line… working with folks?!”
Yang quickly took down his posts and instantly took to grovelings before the Twitter mob.
“I like to believe the best of people – especially if I’ve met and spent time with that person. Sometimes it makes me miss something. I think we should have the capacity to forgive people – whether a podcaster or a mayor – if they mess up. Maybe it’s because I mess up too,” stated the politician at the start of the new apology thread. “Racism is real, deep, corrosive and even lethal. I know that. I made a mistake in an earlier tweet tonight that downplayed these realities.”
“I deleted the tweet because it was wrong-headed. It also hurt people, which is never my intent. I’m sorry. I’m learning and appreciate those who reached out to express their feelings,” he went on. “I like to believe the work I’ve done these past years had the goal of uplifting everyone, particularly those on the outside looking in for any reason, be it poverty or marginalization or race. I’ve always wanted to help those with the least the most.”
“I’m going to keep doing all I can for a more fair, equitable, and just country. That means for everyone. Universal Basic Income, Democracy Reform and unity are how we get there,” Yang stated at the end of the thread.
I like to believe the best of people – especially if I’ve met and spent time with that person. Sometimes it makes me miss something. I think we should have the capacity to forgive people – whether a podcaster or a mayor – if they mess up. Maybe it’s because I mess up too.
— Andrew Yang🧢⬆️🇺🇸 (@AndrewYang) February 7, 2022
I deleted the tweet because it was wrong-headed. It also hurt people, which is never my intent. I’m sorry. I’m learning and appreciate those who reached out to express their feelings.
— Andrew Yang🧢⬆️🇺🇸 (@AndrewYang) February 7, 2022
I’m going to keep doing all I can for a more fair, equitable, and just country. That means for everyone. Universal Basic Income, Democracy Reform and unity are how we get there.
— Andrew Yang🧢⬆️🇺🇸 (@AndrewYang) February 7, 2022
On Saturday morning, Rogan posted a video to his Instagram talking about his use of the N-word on past episodes of his show. “There’s been a lot of s*** from the old episodes of the podcast that I wish I hadn’t said, or had said differently. This is my take on the worst of it,” he wrote about the post in the caption.
“I never used it to be racist, because I’m not racist,” Rogan stated as part of the video. “But whenever you’re in a situation where you have to say, ‘I’m not racist,’ you f***ed up. And I clearly have f***ed up.”
Daniel Ek, the CEO of Spotify, stated this past Sunday that he was not going to take Rogan off the platform. “While I strongly condemn what Joe has said and I agree with his decision to remove past episodes from our platform, I realize some will want more,” stated Ek. “And I want to make one point very clear – I do not believe that silencing Joe is the answer. We should have clear lines around content and take action when they are crossed, but canceling voices is a slippery slope. Looking at the issue more broadly, it’s critical thinking and open debate that powers real and necessary progress.”