PODCAST superstar Joe Rogan has hired an “elite” armed security team to protect him and his family amid the bitter backlash against his show.
The Sun can reveal that an armed guard is parked up outside the Spotify podcaster’s $14.4million eight-bed home in Austin, Texas, around the clock.
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“Armed and dangerous” guards are also said to be positioned inside the property, which is monitored by CCTV.
It comes as Rogan’s coverage of the Covid pandemic and vaccines and his use of the N-word on The Joe Rogan Experience sparked a furious reaction from his critics.
Dad-of-two Rogan, his wife Jessica, and their kids moved to their Austin home, where he also records his podcast, nearly two years ago after leaving California.
The news comes as:
- Michael Bisping reveals ‘slew of abuse’ from ‘Rogan fanboys’
- Dana White reveals Rogan chose NOT to work at UFC 271
- Rogan not working UFC due to ‘scheduling conflict’
- Spotify boss says he WON’T ‘silence Joe’
- Joe Rogan’s seven most shocking moments
A source with knowledge of the matter told The Sun: “Joe wants his family to be safe more than anything.
“There’s sometimes a dozen people a day turning up at the property to take selfies or to drop things off in his letterbox.
“Obviously any crazy could turn up and try anything. He’s got supporters as well as enemies, it’s fair to say.
“Having the security team there is pre-emptive just in case things take a turn for the worse.
“People come from all over the country just to visit his house.
“It’s pretty wild and he doesn’t want anything to ever get out of hand, especially now after the Covid stuff.
“There are guys inside the house as well as outside.
“He gets high-profile people there too who also need protection because it’s where he records his show.
“It’s just better to be safe than be sorry.”
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Rogan, 54, signed an exclusive deal with Spotify for his podcast said to be worth between $100 million and $200 million in May 2020.
But he has come under heavy fire recently for interviewing Covid vaccine critic Dr Robert Malone, one of the inventors of mRNA technology.
He also drew heat for his conversation with top cardiologist Dr Peter McCullough, who claimed that the Covid pandemic was “planned”.
Following the two interviews, rock star Neil Young removed his music from Spotify after issuing an ultimatum to the platform to choose between him and Rogan.
The move from Young, 76, was followed by singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell, 78, and other artists.
Later a video emerged showing numerous times that Joe had used the N-word on his podcast, which Rogan apologized for but also described as a “political hit job.”
So far Spotify has stood by the podcast, which draws an estimated average audience of 11 million people.
Rogan – who is also a stand-up comedian and UFC commentator – cited California’s strict Covid lockdowns as being among the reasons he moved from LA to Austin during the pandemic.
Pics obtained by The Sun show a vehicle that Rogan’s security team was using to stand guard outside his property.
‘POLITICAL HIT JOB’
A local source in his Austin neighborhood said: “There’s a lot of rich and famous people nearby including Sandra Bullock and Matthew McConnaughey.
“They all hang out together, Joe included, and many of the people living here have some kind of private security.
“But Joe’s guys are the best of the best.
“These aren’t just retired Navy Seals who have been linked to Joe before, they are professionals who have worked with the biggest names in entertainment and politics.
“These are real elite operators, most definitely not some local outfit.
“They’re armed and dangerous and he’s not messing around when it comes to his family’s safety, believe me.”
The Sun reached out to Rogan for comment but did not hear back.
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