Except for one, Samuel L. Jackson had a few choice words for disgraced podcaster Joe Rogan.
In a recent interview, the actor discussed who is allowed to use the N-word and who is not. Jackson made the remarks when discussing one of Rogan’s most recent controversies, this time his use of racist insults on his “Joe Rogan Experience” podcast.
“Say you’re sorry because you want to keep your money,” Jackson told the Times in London. “But you were having fun and you say you did it because it was amusing.”
Last month, singer India Arie called out Rogan’s frequent usage of the N-word on his podcast, sharing a montage of more than two dozen instances of the host using the epithet over the past 12 years.
When the transgressions were discovered, Rogan, 54, apologized, though he claimed Arie “took the video out of context.” He went on to say that the disclosure was “the most regretful and embarrassing thing I’ve ever had to publicly talk about.”
Joe Rogan has allegedly used the N-word more than two dozen times on his podcast “The Joe Rogan Experience.”
Jackson, on the other hand, isn’t convinced by the apology.
“He’s claiming that no one understood the context at the time he said it, but he shouldn’t have said it in the first place.” “It’s not the context, buddy; it’s the fact that he felt at ease doing it,” he explained.
The actor continued, “There are times when the word is appropriate,” such as when it’s “an part of what the story is about.”
“A tale is context — but for the sole purpose of eliciting a laugh?” “That’s not right,” the 73-year-old actor stated emphatically.
Jackson then used his friend and director Quentin Tarantino to illustrate his argument. Tarantino has also been chastised for using the N-word in the past, but Jackson claims that this time is different.
“I don’t know if I can say [the N-word] this many times,” Leo [DiCaprio] stated while we were practicing ‘Django Unchained,’ ” Jackson added. “Both Quentin and I agreed you had to.”
“Every time someone wants to use the N-word excessively, they go to Quentin – it’s unfair,” he added. “He’s just delivering a story, and the characters speak in that manner.” It’s art when Steve McQueen does it. He’s a performer. Quentin is basically a popcorn movie director.”
Tarantino, 58, has previously been defended by Jackson. The director’s first film, which was released in 2018, was the subject of a documentary.