Credit: Imago UFC commentator and podcaster Joe Rogan rarely holds himself back on the microphone. But this time, critics say he crossed the line. Last year, Rogan, alongside public figures such as Elon Musk and Kid Rock, drew backlash when he used the ‘R-word’ on the podcast. During the episode, Rogan called the resurgence of the controversial term “one of the great culture victories.” His remarks have now prompted sharp criticism from New Jersey state leaders. Recently, Dr. Stephen Cha, commissioner of New Jersey DHS, and Kaylee McGuire of the Department of Aging and Disability Services addressed the issue in a guest column for NJ.com. They recalled how in 2010, New Jersey “acted decisively to remove outdated and demeaning terminology from New Jersey statutes and regulations and replace it with respectful, person‑first language. ADVERTISEMENT “Today that progress faces a test. Prominent voices have openly embraced this regression. On a widely listened episode of “The Joe Rogan Experience,” the host used the slur within seconds of the program’s start, celebrating its return as a cultural win,” the column read. “The pattern has repeated elsewhere: Musician Kid Rock publicly used the slur on television, and Kanye West used the word during an interview, among many other recent examples.” ADVERTISEMENT