If someone posts, “The sky is blue” on social media, there’s a good chance someone will angrily disagree.
That’s the nature of our digital discourse. We have opinions on everything, and we can’t stop sharing them. Have you visited NextDoor.com lately?
Journalists often used that to craft “controversies” out of thin air. That either reveals the bias of the platform in question or the mad dash for clicks.
The latter likely explains not one but two articles tied to the new “Kill Tony” Netflix special. Tony Hinchcliffe’s popular podcast came to streaming earlier this week, featuring the show’s signature format.
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Hinchcliffe pulls random names out of a bucket, and the person selected must perform a minute-plus of stand-up comedy.
The show is routinely taped at Joe Rogan’s Comedy Mothership, the free speech Mecca in Austin, Texas. So it made sense that Rogan would make an appearance as part of the show’s celebrity panel.
It turns out a few random people on social media didn’t care for Rogan’s performance.
Stop. The. Presses!
RELATED: JOE ROGAN – FROM SITCOM SIDEKICK TO CULTURE WARRIOR
Newsweek swung for the Pulitzer fences with its story on the non-troversy. “Joe Rogan’s ‘Kill Tony’ Appearance Comes Under Fire,” goes the headline.
The story’s lede can’t even pretend to make the story matter: “Joe Rogan’s appearance on comedian Tony Hinchcliffe’s new Netflix special is drawing criticism online.”
Everything draws criticism online. See the previous “sky is blue” declaration.
The article cites a few social media users who disliked Rogan’s appearance. Later, we meet others who enjoyed seeing Rogan on the video podcast.
To recap: Netflix put out a new comedy special. Some folks didn’t like it. Others did. The former didn’t rally in such enormous numbers that it merited a story.
The outlet even reached out to Team Rogan for comment.
Rogan appeared as a panelist in the first special, and his screen time sparked backlash from some viewers on social media. Newsweek has contacted Rogan’s representative for comment via email.
What comment would Rogan or his team offer up? Are they serious?
Newsweek had some embarrassing company here. The Daily Mail also rushed into the fray, fearlessly examining the same non-story.
“Joe Rogan comes under fierce fire over appearance on Netflix comedy special”
Note the word “fierce.” The British outlet must have uncovered even more proof that the country stands divided on Rogan’s appearance. Why else deploy the word, “fierce?”
Not so much.
The outlet singled out four – yes, four! – Reddit users who disliked Rogan’s appearance. For balance, the article cited two people who didn’t mind Rogan’s work on the special.
That’s six whole people, folks. Serious stuff.
Some might call it fierce.
Editor’s Note: It’s a brutal time to be an independent journalist, but it’s never been more necessary given the sorry state of the corporate press. If you’re enjoying Hollywood in Toto, I hope you’ll consider leaving a coin (or two) in our Tip Jar.
The post Newsweek, Daily Mail Create Controversy Out of Thin Air appeared first on Hollywood in Toto.
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