Joe Rogan is taking the flak.
The UFC colour commentator admits making a genitalia joke about Cristiane Justino on a recent podcast wasn’t his finest hour.
On a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, Rogan was leading a lighthearted discussion on what would happen if the UFC commissioned a roast for certain fighters. When he suggested that his guest, comedian Tony Hinchcliffe should roast MMA star “Cyborg”, Rogan told him that he should start with “her penis”.
Hinchcliffe proceeded to make an insensitive joke about the Invicta featherweight champion.
“She’s the only person who cuts weight by chopping off her dick.”
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Cyborg heard the segment and responded with an emotional Facebook post in which she labelled Rogan as a bully.
Obviously feeling guilt about upsetting the fighter, Rogan has since admitted he was wrong to make the insensitive joke at Cyborg’s expense, speaking to Bloody Elbow.
“Well, if I had to do it again, I definitely wouldn’t have made the joke.”
“I shouldn’t have said it, but it’s what you say if you’re hanging around with comedians, you know? It’s what we do. Plus, I had a couple of drinks. It was just a dumb thing to do, and I certainly didn’t mean it with any malice. I honestly didn’t.”
Rogan revealed that he did not blame Hinchcliffe for perpetuating the joke, and confessed it was his fault for making the initial gag.
“Then Tony elaborated on it and went even deeper with it. That’s what you do in a roast. She didn’t ask to be roasted, and it’s not her fault, but it was in the context of what we were doing. Still, I shouldn’t have done it, I shouldn’t have said it. I do feel bad about it, because I didn’t want to hurt her feelings.”
He closed by claiming to be a big fan of Cyborg as a fighter before commending her on her performance in her loss to Jorina Barrs in a kickboxing bout.
“Anyway, I didn’t mean to start any static with her or anything like that, so I hope she accepts my apology. It’s my fault and I take full responsibility.”