86-year-old Holocaust survivor takes Joe Rogan to task for “freedom” video
In late September, Joe Rogan, the UFC commentator and host of the “Joe Rogan Experience” podcast, posted a video comparing coronavirus vaccine mandates to the Holocaust.
Samuel Rivera Films produced the video, which Rogan posted on his Instagram page. The clip features — among other things — imagery of Hitler, Nazi Germany and scenes from the Holocaust.
Rogan’s post, entitled, “FREEDOM,” included a voiceover from his podcast that had Rogan saying, “We have to protect these freedoms at all costs, whether you agree with people’s choices or not, because it is the foundation that this country was founded on. Freedom”
Rogan’s video has been viewed close to 6 million times.
Gidon Lev, a Holocaust survivor, took Rogan to task over the video. The 86-year-old Lev posted two videos to TikTok where he called out Rogan for “not promoting freedom, but promoting hate” and his “lack of sensitivity” in posting his “FREEDOM” video. Lev demanded an apology from Rogan and the removal of the video.
“I am an 86-year-old-survivor of the Holocaust and saw your video on American freedom and the Covid-19 vaccine. It included images of the Holocaust and of Adolf Hitler, the monster who murdered my father, 26 members of my family, and 6 million Jews and others in gas chambers, in ditches, in firing squads, and even in gas trucks,” Lev said.
“You want to speak about freedom? You are absolutely not promoting freedom, but promoting hate, antisemitism, and possibly even more violence and constant hate. You should apologize to us all, remove the video immediately. It is disgusting and thoughtless and careless, and I am shocked by your lack of sensitivity,” Lev added.
Lev posted his video on October 2. Rogan’s video remains on his Instagram page as of this writing.