Joe Rogan has issued an apology after old clips resurfaced of him using the N word 24 times on his podcast. Watch below:
A video was shared online recently, which included a compilation of clips of the comedian using the offensive slur.
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However, Rogan, who recently came into hot water over allegations of spreading misinformation regarding the Covid pandemic, has now apologised for ever using the word.
In a video posted to his Instagram account, the UFC commentator said he would never use that word now, but hoped it could be used as a 'teachable moment'.
He says: "I'm making this video to talk about the most regretful and shameful thing that I've ever had to talk about publicly.
"There's a video that's out, that's a compilation of me saying the N word. It's a video that's made of clips taken out of context of me of 12 years of conversations on my podcast, and it's all smushed together.
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"And it looks f***ing horrible, even to me."
The 54-year-old went on: "I know that to most people, there's no context where a white person is ever allowed to say that word, never mind publicly on a podcast. And I agree with that.
"Now, I haven't said it in years, but for a long time, when I would bring that word up, like, if it would come up in conversation and instead of saying the N word, I would just say the word - I thought as long as it was in context, people would understand what I was doing."
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He explained that he thought it was ok to use the term when he was discussing its use in popular culture, such as by black comics like Redd Foxx and Richard Pryor.
However, he said that it was wrong of him to do so and that he regrets it.
Rogan also addressed another clip, which was recorded 11 years ago and shows him telling a story about going to see Planet of The Apes with some friends.
In the clip, he explains that a taxi driver dropped them off in a black neighbourhood in Philadelphia and that it was 'like they were in Planet of The Apes'.
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Rogan says: "I was just saying there's a lot of black people there. But then I went on to talk about what a positive experience it was and how much fun it was to go to see this movie in a black neighbourhood.
"It wasn't a racist story, but it sounded terrible. And like I said, you can have clunky stories about anything, but not about race, and so I deleted that whole podcast, but obviously somebody made a clip out of it and taken out of context, it looks terrible, but it looks terrible even in context.
"It's a f***ing idiotic thing to say."
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Concluding his video, Rogan apologised for any offence caused.
He said: "I can't go back in time and change what I've seen said I wish I could obviously that's not possible.
"But I do hope that this can be a teachable moment for anybody that doesn't realise how offensive that word can be coming out of a white person's mouth, in context or out of context. My sincere and humble apologies."
Dominic Smithers