For those who dont know, Wladimir Klitschko is a former boxing heavyweight champion from Ukraine. The type of person that Rogan might actually listen to, due to his respect for combat sports.
tl;dr - Rogan says Biden and Ukraine will cause WW3 due to Biden authorizing weapons to Ukraine that are being used on Russia, and Biden has no right to do that as an aging president who is on his way out. Klitschko says Rogan is playing into Russian propaganda because Putins claim that this will cause WW3 is playing to Putins only leverage: fear. He asks Rogan to invite him into the show so they can discuss it.
Ukrainian boxing champ blasts Joe Rogan for spreading 'Russian Propaganda'
Ukrainian Wladimir Klitschko, a longtime boxing champion considered one of the greatest heavyweights ever, accused podcaster Joe Rogan of repeating Russian propaganda, following an episode in which Rogan implied that the Ukrainian and American leaders were about to start World War III.
In Fridays episode of Joe Rogan Experience, the host criticized President Joe Bidens move to authorize Ukraine to strike Russia with U.S.-provided long-range missiles and said he didnt feel safe that theyre launching missiles into Russia.
How are you allowed to do that when youre on the way out? Like the people dont want you to be there anymore, Rogan said. This should be some sort of a pause for significant actions that could potentially start World War III. Maybe that would be a good thing that we would like to avoid from a dying former president.
Rogan extended his criticisms to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, referring to a presidential address in which Zelenskyy had said that Putin is terrified, following the launch of ballistic missiles into Ukraine last Thursday, following Ukraines strike against Russia earlier that week.
Zelenskyy says Putin is terrified. F--- you man. F--- you people. You F---ing people are about to start World War III, Rogan said.
Rogan even accused Zelenskyy of doing a lot of blow.
This is cocaine-like behavior. Putins fu----- scared, man, Putins terrified. We got him.
We got him, man, we got him. Like, what are you talking about? He has nuclear missiles. You f----ing monkeys, Rogan said.
False drug claims regarding Zelenskyy have been pushed by Russian propagandists in the past, including through a widely shared digitally altered video where Zelenskyy appears to say he uses cocaine, and through a disinformation campaign from Russian propaganda group Storm-1516. Last year, pro-Russian propagandists had also tricked celebrities into creating paid videos on Cameo that were then doctored to insinuate Zelenskyy had a drug problem.
Klitschko, the retired Ukrainian boxer, responded by posting a video on X, addressed to Rogan, that has amassed 11 million views as of Monday. He called Rogans commentary Russian propaganda.
You talk about these American weapons being sent to Ukraine, which you believe will lead to the Third World War, so let me tell you that youre repeating Russian propaganda, Klitschko said in his video. Putins Russia is in trouble, so they want to scare you and people like you. His war was supposed to last three days. It has lasted three years thanks to the heroism and sacrifice of us Ukrainians. So youre using the only weapon that Putin really intends to use, propaganda, and this weapon really weakens our democracies.
Klitschko closes off his video by calling on Rogan to have him on his podcast, where he said the two could discuss like free men his points of difference.
Rogans X account for his podcast later replied to Klitschkos video, writing Does this make sense to anyone or just an attempt to get on the podcast? Klitschko then responded by saying Fear Factor = Offering a public opinion about a nation, but not able to discuss your opinion and facts with another public figure of the nation you had the opinion about. We would only meet in the podcast ring not in the boxing ring. Lets do it! What are you waiting for?
Klitschko held belts from the International Boxing Federation, the World Boxing Organization and the International Boxing Organization from 2008 until 2015. The former boxer did not lose a single fight from 2004 to 2015, and later retired in 2017. Klitschkos brother, Vitali Klitschko, is currently the mayor of Ukraines capital, Kyiv, and was also a former heavyweight champion.
Ukraines former Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba also addressed Rogans comments, writing in an X post, Hi @joerogan, freaking at Ukrainians without giving them a chance to speak isnt a fair fight. If you ever feel like having a real conversation, lets sit down and chat about anything Ukraine-related dragons included. You know your stuff, I know mine. Cigars on me.
Rogan also said in his Friday episode that he believes that President-elect Donald Trumps upcoming administration would alleviate further conflict between Russia and Ukraine saying, We voted Trump in and his idea is to stop all this sh--, and hopefully he can do that.
Rogan endorsed Trump the day before the election, having previously had him as a guest on his podcast.
CNN reported that Zelenskyy recently said that he believed that the war in Ukraine will end faster with the policy of this team that will now lead the White House, referring to the Trump administration.
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Live action Hungry Hungry Hippos though, now that was a sport. ~Aeon Azuran