The latest episode of the hugely popular Joe Rogan Experience podcast has generated significant controversy, not for its content, but for its guest. Hollywood A-lister Bradley Cooper sat down with host Joe Rogan for a sprawling 150-minute conversation, becoming the latest in a string of actors to feature on the show and leaving a portion of the audience deeply frustrated.
A String of Hollywood Appearances Sparks Discontent
The episode, released on January 9, saw the 51-year-old actor and the 58-year-old podcaster delve into topics ranging from artificial intelligence to social media and the modern attention span. However, Cooper's appearance follows closely on the heels of other major stars, including Russell Crowe and Billy Bob Thornton in November, John Cena on December 5, and Ethan Hawke on December 11.
This consistent parade of Hollywood talent has not been well-received by a vocal segment of Rogan's dedicated following. Listeners have taken to platforms like Spotify and Reddit to voice their displeasure, with many accusing the show of losing its edge and becoming more akin to a mainstream talk show.
One disgruntled fan commented directly on the podcast's Spotify page, stating, 'This pod is becoming something like the Tonight Show. Just a string of actors and comedians is making it hard to keep following.' Another succinctly wrote, 'Hollywood Joe Rogan strikes again,' while a third criticised the choice of guest given current world events: 'The world is on fire and we have Hollywood guests? Come on Joe grow some hair.'
Fan Theories and Political Dodging
The reaction has sparked online speculation about the reasoning behind the recent guest list. Some followers theorise that featuring actors is a deliberate strategy to avoid contentious political discussions, a hallmark of earlier episodes. On Reddit, one user questioned, 'Why all these Hollywood actors? I don't get it. they are not interesting at all.'
This sentiment was echoed by another who replied, 'Less chance for politics to come up.' A different fan pointed out the irony, noting, 'Hilarious that actors, the people Joe supposedly can't stand, have become the best guests lately,' with a respondent again suggesting, 'Could be because politics aren't brought up.'
Despite these theories, Rogan has not shied away from political commentary in recent weeks. Just days before the Cooper interview, he stated he understood why left-wing protesters had compared Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids to Hitler's Gestapo, following the ICE shooting of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good. Furthermore, last month he criticised Donald Trump for his 'not funny' reaction to filmmaker Rob Reiner's fictionalised murder.
Cooper's Podcast Initiation and Altered Appearance
During the lengthy interview, Bradley Cooper revealed that it was Joe Rogan who finally drew him into the world of podcasts last year. 'I know I'm late to the game,' the actor admitted. He also shared a personal detail, noting, 'Often, I'll go to bed, and my daughter's listening to your voice,' referring to his eight-year-old child with ex-partner Irina Shayk. 'But I do put on headphones sometimes,' he added.
Following the episode's release, a significant portion of the online discussion shifted from the interview's content to Cooper's physical appearance. Numerous viewers expressed shock, claiming the actor looked 'totally unrecognizable.' On Reddit, one commenter asserted, 'This dude also f***ed his face up and barely looks like himself anymore.'
Others echoed this, with one writing, 'His face is somehow different, almost like I can't recognize him, and not because he's older now,' and another stating, 'Totally unrecognizable. I would never guess this man is Bradley Cooper.' A fourth fan provocatively suggested, 'Bradley seriously f***ed up his face. If Joe was a real one, he'd ask him about it. Can you imagine?'
Cooper recently addressed the persistent plastic surgery rumours on the SmartLess podcast. Hosts Will Arnett and Jason Bateman directly acknowledged the speculation, with Arnett insisting Cooper had not gone under the knife. Cooper himself revealed he has been stopped frequently by people complimenting his looks, calling the attention 'crazy.' While he did not explicitly confirm or deny any procedures, the conversation confirmed the actor is acutely aware of the public chatter surrounding his appearance.
