In a sea of overwrought defenses of Joe Rogan on social media over the weekend, former Democratic presidential and New York mayoral candidate Andrew Yang tweeted what has to be the worst excuse for the comedian’s long history of using racial slurs on his popular podcast. “I don’t think Joe Rogan is a racist,” Yang, who appeared as a guest on The Joe Rogan Experience during his primary campaign in February 2019, declared, adding, “the man interacts and works with black people literally all of the time.” Among the many baffled responses to Yang’s since-deleted tweet was this question from DNC chairman Jaime Harrison: “Dude… seriously?! You joking right Andrew? Is that now the new defining line… working with folks?!” Hours later, Yang posted a series of tweets addressing the previous message. “I like to believe the best of people - especially if I’ve met and spent time with that person. Sometimes it makes me miss something,” he wrote. “I think we should have the capacity to forgive people - whether a podcaster or a mayor - if they mess up. Maybe it’s because I mess up too.” He then explained that he deleted the original tweet “because it was wrong-headed” and also because it “hurt people, which is never my intent. I’m sorry. I’m learning and appreciate those who reached out to express their feelings.”

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