Trans MMA fighter Fallon Fox (left) and Joe Rogan (right) (Photos: Fallon Fox; Digital Music News)
Former trans mixed martial arts fighter Fallon Fox is now calling for Spotify to remove Joe Rogan following allegedly transphobic comments.
Joe Rogan’s arrival at Spotify continues to be shrouded in controversy, most recently over allegedly anti-trans statements released by the podcaster. Rogan, a longtime critic for allowing men in transition to participate in female competitive sports, has openly criticized MMA fighters like Fallon Fox (among others), and questioned the praise and adulation given to women. people who choose to make the transition.
Last week, the backlash against Rogan continued after the podcaster questioned whether the transition alone was cause for celebration. “It’s not wrong,” Rogan said in an interview with guest Jim Breuer, while noting that a certain subset of the population has always wanted to switch to a different gender. “There are people who really have these thoughts. The problem is, it becomes a protected subject and then you are praised for transferring your gender – for changing your gender. And then it gets exciting for people to talk about it, and then you’re even blamed for discussing it in a weird way.
“And then the people who have been marginalized for being – like generally stupid people, if they transfer and become another gender, then they are praised. There are a lot of people who are dumb, but then they go trans, and now all of a sudden we think they’re amazing.
This has now prompted Fallon Fox – recognized as the first African-American trans athlete – to call for Rogan’s removal.
“Joe Rogan is transphobic again,” blasted Fox on Facebook. “He’s had more transphobic episodes than you can get. Spotify must already cancel its show. ”
The resulting stacking was predictable enough, although it’s not clear if Spotify is considering taking any action. Previously, Spotify had resisted pressure from employees who demanded multiple actions against Rogan because of guests and allegedly anti-trans statements.
A focal point for employee inquiries was an interview between Rogan and Abigail Shrier, author of Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters. In the interview, Shrier asked strongly whether adolescent (and younger) women should be allowed to undergo transitional surgeries and hormone therapy at such an early developmental period in their lives.
Rogan also clashed with Caitlin Jenner, particularly over a standing joke that Jenner transitioned after being driven insane by the Kardashians. With Fallon Fox, however, Rogan was much more serious in his criticism. “First of all, she’s not really a her. He is a postoperative transgender person, ”noted Rogan in 2013.“ The operation does not reduce bone density. It doesn’t change. You look at a man’s hands and you look at a woman’s hands and they’re built differently. They’re just thicker, they’re stronger, your wrists are thicker, your elbows are thicker, your joints are thicker. Just the mechanical function of punching, a man can do it a lot harder than a woman, period.
Notably, Rogan didn’t back down an inch despite the continued pressure – and responded directly to requests from Spotify employees. “If you have a problem with people saying terrible shit and you work for Spotify, maybe you should listen to some of the lyrics [on Spotify-hosted songs]. Okay, because some of the lyrics and some of the fucking music you play over and over makes my shit look pale in comparison.
“But I get it, you’re a 23 year old woke up and you work for this company and you think you’re going to put your foot down, I get it. “
–
