“Mental Health and Addiction”- Joe Rogan Confesses the “Real Problem” Behind San Francisco’s Concerns

San Francisco has seen it all—beatniks, hippies, earthquakes, even the AIDS crisis. However, as Bill Murray put it, the city has always survived. When people talk about San Francisco now, they do not discuss its resiliency. It’s about the homeless situation, the tents on the streets, and the feeling that things are out of control. Obviously, governments are the first to be blamed when it comes to why there are so many homeless people on the streets in San Francisco. But while many people blame politics, Joe Rogan believes there is something deeper going on.

“What they need is more mental health care. Drug addiction and mental health—that’s the real problem,” Joe Rogan said on JRE #2282 with Bill Murray. For him, it’s not just about the people who live on the streets; it’s about why they’re there at all. He emphasized how the city’s approach—providing financial assistance while failing to address addiction and mental illness—has further exacerbated the situation. “And when you don’t address it, and then you just allow people to camp anywhere they want, you’re almost sort of encouraging mental health problems to be everywhere throughout the entire city.”

Rogan didn’t hold back on what he considers a mistaken feeling of compassion. He argued that allowing people to sleep on the streets is not charity but rather negligence. “It’s just a lack of empathy for the people. If you’re empathetic for them, you don’t let them just camp out and s— on the street. What you do is try to say, ‘Obviously, you have a real problem. This needs to be addressed for the greater good of the city and for these people.'” He believes that ignoring the core causes of homelessness harms not only the individuals affected but also the city as a whole.

Nov 15, 2015; Melbourne, Australia; Joe Rogan looks on during UFC 193 at Etihad Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Roberts-USA TODAY Sports

And the statistics don’t seem to be lying about this one issue. Family homelessness in San Francisco has increased by 94% since 2022, and the city’s shelters are unable to keep up, with over 300 families still waiting for homes. Homeless children are considerably more likely to drop out of school, experience emotional problems, and repeat the cycle. San Francisco has pledged $50 million to address the epidemic, but Rogan believes that money alone will not solve the problem. Nothing will change unless the city recognizes that homelessness is a mental health catastrophe, not merely a housing one. However, it is worth noting that while the UFC commentator is talking about saving the homeless in this episode, a previous statement on the same issue also landed him in troubled waters once.

When Joe Rogan delivered a controversial statement on homeless people

For all of Joe Rogan’s concerns about empathy and mental health, his previous views on the subject have not always been as nuanced. During a conversation with comedian Tom Segura on the July 14 edition of his podcast, he made an offhand statement that shocked many: “Maybe you should just go shoot the homeless people.” While the exchange was clearly dark humor, it sparked outrage, particularly among those who work directly with the homeless. The irony wasn’t lost on critics—how could someone who now claims to advocate for mental health care have previously talked so casually about violence against the exact people he claims need help?

The incident occurred while the two comedians were discussing how, under California law, a homeless person’s items are protected as personal property. Segura stated, “That’s that person’s property by law,” to which Rogan replied, “Oh, a homeless person’s property is protected?” Segura agreed, stating that if someone moved or took those goods, they may face arrest. The JRE host’s reply took an unexpected turn: “You’d get arrested. Hilarious. But they wouldn’t arrest you if you shot somebody. Maybe you should just go shoot the homeless people.” Segura laughed and replied, “I like your ideas.”

The interaction was filled with sarcasm, but many people didn’t get the humor. It played directly into harmful stereotypes, and critics claimed it could even inspire violence against the already defenseless. The backlash was lightning-fast. Los Angeles community leaders, including Theo Henderson, a well-known advocate for the homeless, described the statements as “repulsive” and “infuriating.” Henderson pointed out that homeless people are already subjected to high rates of violence, often by those who see them as less than human. To him, the JRE host’s statements were not only insensitive but also dangerous. Whether or not Rogan meant his comment literally, the harm had been done. However, his fans will be relieved to know that the UFC commentator is taking the matter seriously and has even asked the government to take significant action on it.

The post “Mental Health and Addiction”- Joe Rogan Confesses the “Real Problem” Behind San Francisco’s Concerns appeared first on EssentiallySports.