O2 Arena, London
The controversial US podcaster finds fertile material challenging society’s sensitivities – yet while his standup takes pains to short-circuit offence, fear of emasculation underpins too many of the gags
“Talking shit used to be fun,” complains Joe Rogan. “It didn’t used to have so many consequences.” He sounds quite sensitive, Rogan, to the pushback against him saying the N-word on his hit podcast, or broadcasting anti-vaccine misinformation. Which is ironic, because every routine here is bookended by a peeve about how sensitive people are these days. The consequences Rogan has faced for “talking shit”, meanwhile, have not been entirely negative. Spotify bought his podcast for a reported $100m, and here he is performing his standup to 20,000-capacity crowds.
Watching the show, I can understand his resentment at being branded sexist, homophobic and the rest. Joke for joke, he’s not overtly chauvinistic – and when he risks being so (gags about his fear of predatory gay men; gags about #MeToo going too far), he takes pains to frame things in ways that short-circuit the offence. The overall persona helps: unlike his unlovely support act Tony Hinchcliffe, he doesn’t want us to admire his opinions, repeatedly (and endearingly) sending up his own stupidity and lack of authority.
