Joe Rogan hires bodyguards to protect his family amid Spotify drama

Podcaster Joe Rogan has hired an “elite” team of bodyguards to protect his family at their $20 million Texas home amid the controversy over his show.

Controversial podcaster Joe Rogan has hired an “elite” armed security team to protect him and his family amid the bitter backlash against his show.

The US Sun reports an armed guard is parked around the clock outside the Spotify podcaster’s $US14.4 million ($A20 million) eight-bed home in Austin, Texas.

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Podcaster Joe Rogan has hired security to protect amid the Spotify drama. Picture: Supplied

“Armed and dangerous” guards are also said to be positioned inside the property, which is monitored by CCTV.

It comes as Rogan has come under fire for his coverage of the Covid pandemic and vaccines as well as his use of the N-word on The Joe Rogan Experience.

Rogan, his wife Jessica, and their two kids have lived in the Austin home, where he also records his podcast, nearly two years ago after leaving California.

Guards are parked outside Joe Rogan’s home. Picture: Backgrid

Security is also understood to stand guard inside the gated property. Picture: Backgrid

A source with knowledge of the matter told The US Sun Rogan 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,” they said.

“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.”

Rogan has drawn backlash from critics over broadcasts about the Covid pandemic. Picture: YouTube

Rogan, 54, signed an exclusive deal with Spotify for his podcast, said to be worth between $US100 million and $US200 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. It was broadcast just one day after Dr Malone was banned from Twitter for tweeting Covid misinformation.

He also drew criticism for his conversation with cardiologist Dr Peter McCullough, who claimed that the Covid pandemic was “planned”.

Following the two interviews, rock stars such as Neil Young and Joni Mitchell removed their music from Spotify after issuing an ultimatum to the platform to choose between them and Rogan.

Later a video emerged showing times when Rogan had used the N-word on his podcast, which Rogan apologised for but also described as a “political hit job”.

Spotify removed over 100 previous episodes of the podcast in reaction to the video, reportedly under Rogan’s direction.

But so far the streaming giant 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.

Pictures obtained by The US Sun show a vehicle that Rogan’s security team was using to stand guard outside his property.

The podcaster, UFC commentator and stand-up comedian apologised for a video showing him repeatedly using the N-word on his show. Picture: Carmen Mandato/Getty Images North America/AFP

‘Political hit job’

A local source in Rogan’s Austin neighbourhood said there are a lot of rich and famous people nearby including Sandra Bullock and Matthew McConaughey.

“They all hang out together, Joe included, and many of the people living here have some kind of private security,” they said.

“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 US Sun contacted Rogan for comment but did receive a reply.

This article originally appeared in the US Sun and was reproduced with permission

Originally published as Joe Rogan hires bodyguards to protect his family amid Spotify drama