Joe Rogan has released a new episode of The Joe Rogan Experience and the podcaster hasn’t shied away from his recent controversies, calling it a “political hit job”.

During the Feb 8th podcast, which is his first since the viral compilation that showed him saying the N-word more than 20 times on his podcast was shared, Rogan addressed how he’s been handling the backlash.

“[You] just have to stay offline,” he told comedian guests Akaash Singh, adding, “life goes on that’s normal”.

Rogan then insinuated that the general public’s reaction was an attack on him.

“In a lot of ways all of this is a relief because that video it’s always been out there. This is a political hit job. So they’re taking all this stuff that I’ve ever said wrong and putting it together. It’s good because it makes me address some shit that I really wish wasn’t out there,” he said during the episode.

Rogan added: “You should apologize if you regret something, but ideally you should never apologize. But if you regret something, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with apologizing.”

Rogan then changed the topic, and in his trademark style, didn’t shy away from a racially charged issue, questioning why comedian Awkwafina apologised for using a so-called “blaccent.”

“I do think you have to be very careful to not apologize for nonsense. Like you see Awkwafina… she defended the way she talks and they were saying that it’s a “blaccent” which is ,you know, come on now,” he said with a sigh.

Awkwafina is an Asian-American comedian, who was recently cliticised for using elements of African American language and mannerisms throughout her career. She has since issued a lengthy Twitter apology.

Part of the statement reads, “My immigrant background allowed me to carve an American identity off the movies and tv shows I watched, the children I went to public school with, and my undying love and respect for hip hop,” she wrote. “I think as a group, Asian Americans are still trying to figure out what that journey means for them — what is correct and where they don’t belong.

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