The worst consequence for saying something that’s bound to piss people off is just that, pissed off people.
There was a real moment during which celebrity reactionaries feared The R-Word would result in the kind of deplatforming and loss of advertising patronage historically reserved for The N-Word or any of the Seven Words You Can’t Say On TV (which, curiously, did not include the N-Word at the time).
So the worst consequences wouldn’t have simply been “pissed off people”. Perhaps they’d have endured lawsuits, de-platforming, or even vigilante violence (not uncommon in religiously-tinged censorship - like with the Piss Christ display or the Draw Mohammad contest).
You never faced jail time and I can’t think of anyone “canceled” for it.
Not when the current regime is friendly to your operation, no.
But if you look at what’s happening to pro-Palestinian activists and Women’s Liberation organizations, it’s obvious that state and civil institutions have lots of tools for fucking people over based entirely on their stated political views. The real defense that Rogan, et al enjoy is having their friends in charge.
There was a real moment during which celebrity reactionaries feared The R-Word would result in the kind of deplatforming and loss of advertising patronage historically reserved for The N-Word or any of the Seven Words You Can’t Say On TV (which, curiously, did not include the N-Word at the time).
So the worst consequences wouldn’t have simply been “pissed off people”. Perhaps they’d have endured lawsuits, de-platforming, or even vigilante violence (not uncommon in religiously-tinged censorship - like with the Piss Christ display or the Draw Mohammad contest).
Not when the current regime is friendly to your operation, no.
But if you look at what’s happening to pro-Palestinian activists and Women’s Liberation organizations, it’s obvious that state and civil institutions have lots of tools for fucking people over based entirely on their stated political views. The real defense that Rogan, et al enjoy is having their friends in charge.