Proving yet again that the Republican Party is now proud of promoting bigotry and racism with no excuses, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis says that podcaster Joe Rogan should never have apologized for referring to black people by the pejorative N-word because that’s what the media wants him to do.

After a compilation of Rogan using the word was released online, he replied via Instagram, according to CNN:

Rogan used the word more than 20 times in the clips from different podcast episodes, which he said were compiled over a span of 12 years. In his apology, Rogan said it’s the “most regretful and shameful thing” he has ever had to address publicly.
“I know that to most people, there’s no context where a White person is ever allowed to say that, never mind publicly on a podcast, and I agree with that,” he said. “Now, I haven’t said it in years,” Rogan added.
Rogan also addressed a video of him comparing a Black neighborhood to a Planet of the Apes movie. “I certainly would never want to offend someone for entertainment with something as stupid as racism,” he said.
DeSantis, however, told Fox News that Rogan’s apology was a huge mistake
“I think the left fear the fact that [Joe Rogan] can reach so many people, and so they’re out to destroy him. But what I would say is don’t give an inch. Do not apologize. Do not kow [sic] to the mob. Stand up and tell them to pound sand; if you do that, there’s really nothing that they’re able to do to you. The only way they have power is if you let them get your goat.”
The potential 2024 GOP presidential candidate added that Rogan “shouldn’t have apologized.”
“I mean, you see what happens? The mob will come after people, and they’re targeting Rogan because he’s threatening to upset the apple cart on some of the things that they’re holding dear.”
And there you have it: A major figure in the Republican Party saying there’s no reason to apologize for saying something as disgusting and hurtful as the N-word. See, for DeSantis being a hateful jerk and calling a person a terrible name is all about “freedom,” which is actually just another excuse for hatred and violence, which we already have far too much of in this country.
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