Joe Rogan comes for Michelle Obama, Transgender people & COVID vaccine in Netflix's ‘Burn the Boats’

In his latest comedy special, comedian and podcaster Joe Rogan targeted subjects such as COVID vaccines and transgender individuals.

Rogan's newest special, titled "Burn the Boats," premiered live on Netflix Saturday night and highlighted some of the contentious opinions he's previously shared on his podcast. He also took a self-deprecating approach regarding his influence on culture.

Early in the special, Rogan shared his doubts about COVID vaccines: “COVID was just so strange.” 

“And we lost a lot of people during COVID, and most of them are still alive. There’s a lot of people that I don’t f*** with anymore. Before COVID, I would have told you that vaccines are the most important invention in human history. After COVID, I’m like, ‘I don’t think we went to the moon. I think Michelle Obama’s got a d***. I think Pizzagate is real. I think there’s direct energy weapons in Antarctica.’ I’m just kidding — I don’t think Michelle Obama’s got a d***, but I believe all of that other s***.”

Later, he mocked the criticism of his COVID discussions on his podcast, stating, “If you’re getting your vaccine information from me, is that really my fault?”

In another part of the special, Rogan echoed comedians such as Dave Chappelle and Ricky Gervais, who have faced criticism for their jokes about transgender individuals. 

Rogan began with a series of jokes about "pregnant men" and then expanded to express his belief that the acceptance of transgender people has progressed too rapidly in American culture.

“I’m open-minded,” he said. 

“I just want to know what happened. It’s almost like a pervert wizard waved a magic spell on the whole world. ‘With a wave of this wand, you can walk into the women’s locker room with a hard c***, and anybody who complains is a Nazi. Abracadabra!’ And it just works! And everyone just accepts this new reality, and it’s f****** weird. I just think we need standards. You can’t just put lipstick on and now you can s*** in the women’s room!”

Later, he shifted his focus to gay men, stating, “I don’t hate anybody. I love everyone. And I love gay men. But I think about gay men the same way I think about mountain lions: I’m happy they’re real, but I don’t want to be surrounded by them. They’re a bunch of dudes who f*** dudes. I don’t like my chances, OK? They’re not unicorns — they’re just men who f*** men. And every man who’s ever lived is a s**** c** salesman, OK? 100%. Especially the ones who say they’re not.”

"Burn the Boats" was recorded live at the Majestic Theatre in San Antonio and marks Rogan's first comedy special in six years.