Podcast Host Joe Rogan Takes CNN’s Sanjay Gupta To Task Over ‘Unfavorably Framing’ Ivermectin As ‘Horse Dewormer’

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Oct 14, 2021

The world’s most popular podcast host, Joe Rogan, got an opportunity to confront CNN’s health expert, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, on his program and grilled him mercilessly over his network’s portrayal of him taking ivermectin to treat the coronavirus.

Rogan took CNN to the woodshed over their “lies” concerning ivermectin as a “horse dewormer” during the Wednesday edition of his podcast. Rogan took ivermectin pills that were prescribed by his doctor to help treat COVID when he was sick with the illness back in August.

CNN featured a chyron when the story broke that read, “Joe Rogan says he has COVID, taking livestock drug despite warnings.”

via Washington Examiner:

Ivermectin is widely prescribed to humans as an anti-parasitic treatment, though it is not an approved treatment for coronavirus and the Food and Drug Administration has warned against its use.

“Why would you say that when you’re talking about a drug that has been given out to billions and billions of people?” Rogan then asked CNN’s chief medical correspondent. “A drug that the inventors won a Nobel Prize in 2015, a drug that has been shown to stop viral replication in vitro. You know that, right? Why would they lie and say that’s horse dewormer? […] Do you think that that’s a problem that your news network lies?”

“There were people who were taking the veterinary medication, and you’re not, obviously,” Gupta replied. “You got it from a doctor, so it shouldn’t be called that. Ivermectin can be a very effective medication for parasitic disease.”

Gupta tried to switch up the conversation to different topics, but Rogan wasn’t having it.

“No, no, no, before we get to that, the news network you work for out and out lied, just outright lied, about me taking horse dewormer,” Rogan stated.

“They shouldn’t have said that,” Gupta responded.

“Why did they do that?” the podcast host asked.

“I don’t know,” Gupta replied.

You didn’t ask? You’re the medical guy over there,” Rogan fired back.

Gupta sat down for three hours on Rogan’s podcast, during which they discussed their differing views on responding to the pandemic.

Gupta said coming on Rogan’s podcast was going “into the lion’s den” to discuss his “message about the utility of vaccines, the importance of masks and how we can all work together to put an end to this pandemic.”

Though not against the vaccine itself, Rogan has advocated autonomy in choosing to get vaccinated and previously suggested that young, healthy people shouldn’t get it .

Gupta said later that it was “probably futile” to attempt changing Rogan’s position on the coronavirus vaccine.

“His mind was made up, and there would always be plenty of misinformation out there neatly packaged to support his convictions,” Gupta went on to write concerning the conversation with Rogan. “Truth is though, I am still glad I did it. My three-hour-long conversation wasn’t just with Rogan. If just a few of his listeners were convinced, it will have been well worth it.”