Joe Rogan under fire from ADL and other comedians for spreading ‘cruel lies about the Jewish people’ on Spotify show

Joe Rogan, no stranger to controversy, offers the following generalization about Jews on his wildly popular Spotify show: “The idea that Jews don’t like money is ridiculous. It’s like saying Italians don’t like pizza.”

Rogan spoke with former MSNBC contributor Krystal Ball about Rep. Ilhan Omar’s 2019 tweet that American defenders of Israel were motivated solely by money.

“It’s all about Benjamin’s baby,” Omar wrote at the time. The tweet drew a swift rebuke from leaders on both sides of the aisle, including then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Omar later backtracked, writing: “My apologies unreservedly.”

The Spotify host’s comments this week were part of a conversation about Rep. Adam Schiff.

“It’s crazy,” Rogan said. “Did you see him sitting next to Ilhan Omar where she was apologizing because she said it was all about the Benjamins? Where it’s all about the money. She talks about money. I don’t think this is an anti-Semitic comment. Benjamins are money.”

He continued: “The idea that Jews don’t like money is ridiculous. That’s like saying Italians don’t like pizza. That’s damn stupid.”

ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt called the comedian’s comments “no joke” and said he found it “disturbing that @joerogan at a time of increasing anti-Jewish violence, when more and more Americans believe in anti-Semitic conspiracy theories , @joerogan using his enormous platform.” use anti-Semitic tropes about Jews and spit money.”

Greenblatt went on to explain, recalling, “For centuries, people have used this ancient trope to spread outrageous lies about the Jewish people. “Comedian” or not, Rogan’s comments are no joke.

British comedian and novelist David Baddiel commented on how alarming it is “when a racist myth about Jews is just… flippantly told on one of the world’s biggest podcasts and no one cares.” You can watch the clip of Rogan’s quote in Baddiel’s tweet below.

Co-lead author for The Late Late Show with James Corden, Ian Karmel joked that Rogan could side with controversial NBA star Kyrie Irving, who herself has been criticized by the ADL and others for her tweets considered anti-Semitic. Irving was traded to the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday after a bumpy run with the Brooklyn Nets.

“Joe Rogan confirmed to the Mavericks,” Karmel tweeted.

Rogan has endured other controversies of late, stemming from vaccine misinformation from some of his guests and his own repeated use of the N-word over the years.

Deadline has contacted Spotify and will add a comment upon receipt.