CNN Won't Apologize For 'Bruising The Ego' of Joe Rogan

CNN refused to apologize to podcaster Joe Rogan for their claims that he took 'horse dewormer' ivermectin for his COVID-19 infection last month, even after the network's own doctor Sanjay Gupta groveled over the incident on Rogan's podcast.

In a statement to the Washington Post, the media network wrote, 'The only thing CNN did wrong here was bruise the ego of a popular podcaster who pushed dangerous conspiracy theories and risked the lives of millions of people in doing so.'

The Daily Mail reports CNN had gone after Rogan for promoting the anti-parasitic medication, along with other treatments prescribed by doctors, to fight the COVID infection he caught in September.

The podcast giant earned two victories in the past week after CNN's chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta admitted his colleague's should not have said Rogan took horse dewormers while on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast last week.

Then, one of CNN's political commentator's, Mary Katherine Ham, spoke out against her employer and defended Rogan. 

Despite this, CNN's Don Lemon continued to criticize Rogan earlier this week, and the company said in a statement on Thursday that their issue with Rogan's claims has 'never been about livestock versus human dosage of Ivermectin.'

'The issue is that a powerful voice in the media, who by example and through his platform, sowed doubt in the proven and approved science of vaccines while promoting the use of an unproven treatment for covid-19 — a drug developed to ward off parasites in farm animals.'

The battle between Rogan and CNN heated up last Wednesday when Rogan grilled Gupta about the broadcaster's coverage of his use of the drug after he was diagnosed with Covid-19, which he claims he recovered from in five days.

After a tense back-and-forth, Gupta eventually agreed that the anti-parasite drug, which was prescribed to Rogan by a doctor, should never have been described by CNN as a horse de-wormer.

'Calling it a horse de-wormer is not the most flattering thing, I get that,' Gupta said.

'It's a lie,' Rogan responded.

'It's a lie on a news network … and it's a lie that they're conscious of. It's not a mistake. They're unfavorably framing it as veterinary medicine.'

Ivermectin can be used as a horse dewormer, but is also used to treat people, with Rogan given the correct prescription by his doctor.  

Studies have shown that Ivermectin decreases viral loads and may prevent COVID deaths, but the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control recommend against using it for COVID, saying further studies are needed. 

According to FOX News, CNN did not concede any wrongdoing in a statement to Washington Post media critic Erik Wemple. 

"The heart of this debate has been purposely confused and ultimately lost," CNN told Wemple on Thursday. "It’s never been about livestock versus human dosage of Ivermectin. The issue is that a powerful voice in the media, who by example and through his platform, sowed doubt in the proven and approved science of vaccines while promoting the use of an unproven treatment for covid-19 — a drug developed to ward off parasites in farm animals." 

"The only thing CNN did wrong here was bruise the ego of a popular podcaster who pushed dangerous conspiracy theories and risked the lives of millions of people in doing so," the network added. 

Wemple appeared shocked by the statement, which he acknowledged made "some good points" but added it "sounds more like the work of an advocacy group than a journalism outfit."

Notably, the statement did not acknowledge Gutpa's stunning admission.