A recent edition of Joe Rogan’s eponymous podcast included an incendiary phony tweet about the COVID-19 vaccination, for which Joe Rogan has expressed “sincere” sorrow.
Wednesday’s episode of “The Joe Rogan Experience” featured a discussion about the coronavirus vaccine with evolutionary biology professor Bret Weinstein. However, the host now acknowledges that the conversation included a fabricated tweet erroneously ascribed to Dr. Natalia Solenkov, a Florida intensive care specialist.
“I was informed last night that this tweet is a hoax,” Rogan, 55, tweeted in an apology on Thursday, before describing how the episode’s part was modified and ultimately erased.
“The episode had already aired, so we initially decided to post a notice stating that we had been duped,” Rogan explained. “Later, it was determined that it was best to simply remove it from the episode. Sincere apologies to everyone, but especially to the victim of the scam.”
Weinstein, 53, also acknowledged the episode’s removal via social media, stating that the tweet was not “authentic” and that “there is no way to preserve that portion while protecting the person who was being impersonated.”
I learned last night that this tweet is a forgery. The episode had already aired, so we initially decided to add a notice stating that we had been deceived, but subsequently decided it would be preferable to simply remove the information.
Sincere apologies to everyone, but especially to the victim of the scam. https://t.co/GOeVjGMH7x
— Joe Rogan (@joerogan) January 5, 2023
Joe’s team will temporarily remove JRE #1919 to resolve an issue discovered after its release. A tweet we discussed turns out to be fake, and there is no way to save it while safeguarding the identity of the impersonated individual. #1919 will shortly return
— Bret Weinstein (@BretWeinstein) January 5, 2023
On the program, the host discussed a message from an account with the name Dr. Natalia.
The now-disproven tweet stated, “I will never regret receiving the vaccine. Even if it turns out that I injected true poison and have only a few days to live, I am prepared. My heart has always been in the correct place.
“I was vaccinated out of love, whereas antivaccination activists did everything out of hatred. If my love for the world requires me to die, then so be it. But I have no regrets or apologies,” the statement concluded.
During the program, Rogan presented the post as an illustration of unnecessary vaccine-related frenzy. He also refuted the notion that anti-vaccination advocates are vindictive.
Rogan stated on the podcast, “It’s also fascinating that this person claims to be about love, but has the most uncharitable view of people who don’t get vaccinated.”
“Everyone became anti-vaccine out of hatred. The notion that I did not get vaccinated out of hatred is absurd. Similarly, I do not detest anyone. I am a loving individual. I do it intentionally. I go above and above to be as generous and compassionate as possible.”
According to The Washington Post journalist Taylor Lorenz, the real Dr. Natalia Solenkov was subjected to “relentless harassment” as a result.
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