In a significant move highlighting a growing trend, prominent comedian Jeff Dye has publicly declared his departure from California, expressing deep-seated fears over the liberal policies of Governor Gavin Newsom. The 42-year-old comic becomes the latest in a string of high-profile figures abandoning the Golden State for the political and social climate of Texas.
The Wake-Up Call: Fires and Policy Fears
Dye made the revelation during an appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast on November 2, detailing his growing unease with the state's direction. "I'm kind of in this kind of LA thing, and I could be guilty of being a victim of what I'm absorbing in my algorithm. But Gavin Newsom scares the s*** out of me and I don't want to be a part of it," Dye stated candidly.
He pointed to the state's handling of the devastating January wildfires that reduced parts of Los Angeles to ashes as a pivotal factor in his decision. "Those fires were quite a wake-up call," he explained. "Even if, you know, whatever you believe about the fires, the way it was dealt with was pretty scary."
Following the Comedy Mothership to Austin
Dye is following a path already carved out by his host, Joe Rogan, who famously relocated from LA to Austin, Texas, in 2020. Rogan recounted his own reasons for leaving, citing the social unrest at the time. "When the shit started getting weird in LA and they were burning cop cars on the freeway, that's when daddy was like I got to get out of here," Rogan said.
He described his concern for his then-young children, aged 10 and 12, as a primary motivator. Rogan has since spearheaded the transformation of Austin into a new comedy hub with the launch of his club, the Comedy Mothership. He is joined by a cadre of other superstar comics like Shane Gillis and Tony Hinchcliffe who have also set up camp in the Lone Star State.
A Wider Celebrity Exodus from California
This movement is not confined to the comedy world. The conversation on the podcast also touched upon celebrities who had threatened to leave the US if Donald Trump was re-elected. Dye and Rogan acknowledged that while some make empty threats, others, like Ellen DeGeneres and Rosie O'Donnell, have followed through.
DeGeneres has since confirmed in an interview that she and her wife, Portia de Rossi, have left the US for good, now residing in the Cotswolds, England, partly due to Trump's return to power and concerns over gay marriage rights.
The celebrity exodus from California is backed by hard data. Recent census figures cited by Business Insider show that over 817,000 people left California between 2021 and 2022. Other notable figures who have relocated include Matthew McConaughey, Glen Powell, and Sylvester Stallone.
Perhaps the most impactful business departure was that of Elon Musk in 2020. The Tesla and SpaceX founder moved to Texas after a dispute with lawmakers, criticising California for becoming "complacent" and "entitled" in its approach to innovation, suggesting the state was taking its success for granted.
