In his latest stand-up special, Burn the Boat, released on August 3rd, Joe Rogan took aim at Prince Harry with a series of incisive jokes that underscore the ongoing tension between the comedian and the royal.
The special, showcasing Rogan's signature blend of humor and provocation, found the comedian skewering Harry’s previous criticisms of Rogan’s comments on COVID-19. Known for his controversial stances and high-profile podcast, Rogan reflected on the surprise and discomfort he felt upon learning about Prince Harry's remarks.
"I got canceled so often during COVID that sometimes I'd discover it by accident," Rogan recounted, setting up his comedic narrative. "One morning, I woke up in my underwear, turned on the TV, and there was Prince Harry talking about me. I just woke up, I’m vulnerable, I’m in my underwear, and there’s a prince on TV."
Rogan, who was vocal in his opposition to COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic, described his initial reaction to the royal’s comments. "Do you know how unbelievably strange it is when a prince knows your name?" Rogan remarked. "He’s saying, ‘Joe Rogan is spreading dangerous vaccine misinformation,’ and my first thought was, 'Did I? Maybe I did.'"
Infusing his trademark self-deprecating humor into the narrative, Rogan pondered the absurdity of someone seeking medical advice from him, given his public persona, which often includes controversial and outrageous content. The routine took a speculative turn as Rogan imagined a hypothetical meeting with Prince Harry.
"I’m not even mad at Harry," Rogan said, suggesting he would react similarly if faced with such criticism. "If I met him, I’d love to have a drink with him. I think if I met that dude, I’d say, ‘Man, I’m not mad at you.’"
Continuing with a playful twist, Rogan suggested an unconventional way to bond with Harry. "The goal would be to get him about three drinks deep and then ask, ‘Hey man, have you ever done mushrooms?’" Rogan teased, referring to the popular psychedelic drug. His hypothetical scenario was further embellished by Rogan’s impersonation of Prince Harry, complete with a high-pitched British accent, humorously mimicking the royal’s potential reaction to psychedelic experiences.
Rogan’s comedy bit delved deeper into the imagined encounter, portraying a psychedelic journey with Harry. "No, no, no, that’s the government—that’s propaganda. Listen, whatever you eat, I’ll eat double. Come on, let’s go meet the aliens," Rogan quipped, blending absurdity with his critique of government narratives.
The segment concluded with a vivid description of a psychedelic experience shared with the royal. "Can you imagine doing mushrooms with Prince Harry? There’s a moment, about 20 minutes after you swallow them, where you know you can’t throw them up anymore. Imagine that moment, sitting crisscross applesauce, eye to eye with the prince, waiting. And here’s the thing about mushrooms—they take around 40 minutes to kick in. But around 35 minutes in, you hear them coming. While Prince Harry’s tripping balls, I’m going to hover over him and say, ‘Are you sure vaccines are safe, bro? You’re not a scientist,’" Rogan said, bringing the segment to a comedic crescendo.
Rogan's stand-up special, while humorous, highlights the persistent friction between the comedian and Prince Harry. By intertwining personal anecdotes with exaggerated scenarios, Rogan underscores his comedic approach to navigating conflict and controversy.
