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Joe Rogan is being dragged by fans after bragging about getting multiple coronavirus tests

Apr 18, 2020, 19:15 IST
Insider
Joe Rogan has been getting everyone who appears on his podcasts tested for the coronavirus. Michael S. Schwartz / Getty Images
  • Joe Rogan is facing some backlash after revealing that he'd been tested for the coronavirus twice in one week with negative results.
  • He's also been getting tests for each of his podcast guests by hiring a concierge doctor from Concierge MD LA.
  • "I'm just going to test myself every three or four days. F--- it," Rogan said on "The Joe Rogan Experience."
  • The US is experiencing a shortage of tests for the virus, meaning that any tests given to the richest 1% reduce access for most Americans.
  • Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.
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Comedian and MMA commentator Joe Rogan is facing criticism after he revealed he'd been tested for the coronavirus twice in one week with negative results.

"I got tested yesterday, and I got tested two days before that. I'm just going to test myself every three or four days. F--- it," Rogan said on his podcast, "The Joe Rogan Experience."

Rogan was joined by comedian Chris D'Elia on Wednesday who also received a test for COVID-19 before appearing on the show.

Rogan began the show by saying: "Chris D'Elia is negative. Yayyyy!"

"You know why I got the test? Because I know Joe Rogan. Because I came here and he had a doctor," D'Elia said.

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Rogan has been paying a concierge doctor from Concierge MD LA, "a premium provider of high-end, on-demand, and personalized medical care in Los Angeles," to come in and administer the tests to him and his guests, VICE reported after speaking to the doctor in question.

Dr. Abe Malki was recently filmed performing the tests on Rogan and his podcast guest, comedian Bryan Callen.

Malki told VICE that he is mostly administering an antibody test that has not been approved by the FDA due to shortages of nasal swab tests and FDA-approved antibody tests.

"There's about 70 companies producing antibody tests, and only one of them is FDA approved, that's Cellex. I don't know how the hell they got that contract that they got FDA approval, but it's impossible to get those tests," Dr. Malkin said.

"I give everyone a disclaimer, it's not FDA approved, you can't use this for diagnosis, it's more for peace of mind, for epidemiologic data. But if they need a definitive diagnosis, they have to get a nasal swab."

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Either the nasal swab or the antibody test cost $299 from Concierge MD LA, according to its website.

Asymptomatic wealthy people and celebrities getting tested by concierge doctors have been the subject of much furor in the US, which is experiencing a shortage of tests for the virus, meaning that any tests given to the top 1% reduce access for most Americans.

Unsurprisingly then, people were quick to chastise Rogan for unnecessarily obtaining the tests when so many are struggling.

Huffington Post reporter Rebecca Klein tweeted that she knew a doctor who couldn't get tested. "A close friend, a doctor, presumably had coronavirus but couldn't get tested in NYC. Cool that Joe Rogan is able to test his pals like it's nothing," she wrote.

"How do I get on Joe rogan's podcast. I don't need to talk to joe rogan I just want a corona virus test," @Bicuriousbogle tweeted.

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@ScottAtHomeToo1 tweeted: "Don't get me wrong. I love Joe #Rogan but is anyone else really turned off by Rogan pulling strings to get all his rich comic buddies #CoronaVirus testing?"

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