
Joe Rogan pushed back on a comment recently made by one of his podcast guests, who joked that YouTuber MrBeast was to blame for the Los Angeles wildfires.
Since January 7, the Palisades, Eaton, Hurst, Lidia and Kenneth fires have caused unprecedented devastation across Los Angeles County, leveling neighborhoods and causing damages estimated at up to $150 billion. More than 12,300 structures have been destroyed, per the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
The Palisades and Eaton fires are two of the worst blazes in Los Angeles County history, causing thousands of residents to lose their homes, while more have been forced to evacuate for their safety. So far, at least 25 people are confirmed dead.
While the fires were worsened by dry conditions and high Santa Ana winds—leading to many pinning the blame on climate change—there have also been police investigations into allegations that arsonists are responsible.

Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images for Prime Video;/Michael S. Schwartz/Getty Images
Media personality Rogan shared his take on the theories surrounding the fires during a recent installment of his podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, where he sat down with fellow comedians Shane Gillis, Mark Normand, and Ari Shaffir.
“It’s hilarious that some people are saying climate change,” Rogan said, before adding: “No, it’s arson, you f****** idiots.”
“I think it’s MrBeast,” Normand quipped. “He’s setting up a new video.”
“Wow, that’s a strong accusation,” Rogan pushed back, prompting Normand to respond: “No, no, just kidding. But they’ve been trying to get rid of the homeless for a while.”
“Bro, the homeless are doing it,” Rogan told Normand. “They’re more inclined to use fire to get their anger out.”
Newsweek has contacted a representative of MrBeast via email for comment.
MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, holds the record for the most subscribers on YouTube, which as of press time exceeds 344 million.
The social media sensation has become known for producing a range of content that includes big-budget, elaborate stunts and charitable acts, such as giving away cash, houses, and cars—and even paying for people’s medical procedures.
His currently airing Amazon Prime Video reality show Beast Games, inspired by Netflix hit Squid Game, sees contestants battling it out for a grand prize of $5 million.
Meanwhile, Rogan spoke further about the suspected cause of the Los Angeles fires, saying that podcaster and neuroscientist Andrew Huberman “actually caught people lighting things on fire. He filmed it, he put it up on his Instagram. In the middle of the fire storm, people were lighting things on fire to contribute to the fire.
“You’ve got losers, you have 100,000 losers that are just camping on your street. What do you think’s gonna happen? What do you think’s gonna happen with the people with the houses are in jeopardy? What do you think is gonna happen with these people that are living in $50 million houses and you’re camping out a block away? Which is exactly what’s going on over there.”
“And the looting,” the former Fear Factor host went on. “They looted people’s houses when they found out that places were getting evacuated. Swarms of organized gangs were showing up. This lady said 100 guys showed up in front of this house, and she thought they were helping her neighbor move. And they just broke down the door and started stealing TVs, stealing everything.”
“What if the house doesn’t burn down?” Rogan asked. “You just stole all their s***. It’s like, you can’t do that.”
“But I see their point too,” he added of the looters. “If I was super poor and we were living in the f****** hood, and then someone came along and said, ‘They’re evacuating these f****** communities anyway, man, f*** it, let’s go get paid,’ I’d be like, ‘Let’s go get paid.’ And if you live in L.A. and you get caught, they just let you go. They just let you go.”
Rogan lived in California for several years before relocating to Texas in 2020.