Comedians and podcasters Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang have addressed the reaction to their recent comments about Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett and her U.S. Senate campaign.
The controversy began on an episode of their podcast Las Culturistas, where Rogers said he believed people should not donate to Crockett’s campaign, arguing that her profile made her unlikely to win a statewide race in Texas.
Yang agreed with the assessment, framing the conversation as a strategic opinion rather than a critique of Crockett personally.
The remarks quickly circulated beyond the podcast’s core audience, drawing criticism from listeners who felt it was inappropriate for entertainers to discourage financial support for a real political candidate — particularly one running in a difficult and high-stakes race.
Their response
In response, Rogers and Yang clarified that they were expressing a personal political opinion, not issuing instructions or attempting to suppress civic engagement. According to Out, Rogers emphasized that he was speaking from his own perspective on how political donations are best used, and that listeners should ultimately make their own decisions.
Both hosts pushed back on the idea that they were telling people not to participate in politics, saying they support progressive causes broadly even when they disagree about strategy or tactics.
Why it struck a nerve
The reaction highlights a recurring tension around public figures who occupy cultural rather than political roles.
Rogers and Yang are best known for comedy and pop-culture commentary, but their large and politically engaged audience means even off-the-cuff remarks can take on added weight when they touch on elections and campaigns.
For some listeners, the issue wasn’t disagreement with their analysis, but discomfort with the idea of entertainers discouraging donations — especially at a moment when many progressives argue that long-shot races still matter for building visibility and infrastructure.
Queer voices and political expectations
The episode also speaks to expectations placed on high-profile queer figures.
Both Rogers and Yang have previously talked about their own political evolution since 2016, and their audience often looks to them not just for humor, but for cues about values and engagement.
That combination — cultural influence paired with political opinion — can be volatile, particularly when opinions cut against what some listeners see as collective responsibility.
No resolution, just conversation
There is no clear consensus emerging from the exchange.
Some listeners appreciated the clarification and accepted the comments as one viewpoint among many. Others remain uneasy about entertainers weighing in on donation strategy at all.
What the moment ultimately underscores is how blurred the line has become between cultural commentary and political influence — and how quickly that blur can turn a podcast conversation into a broader public debate.
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