Joe Rogan rarely hesitates to express his opinion. This time, he criticized Hollywood’s double standards on gun violence, emphasizing how the business that openly promotes firearms in movies is simultaneously publicly campaigning for gun regulation. A video of him criticizing double standards has gone viral, and UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones has now reshared the video on his Instagram, supporting the JRE host’s stance.

On The Joe Rogan Experience podcast (#1860), the UFC commentator highlighted the hypocrisy, saying, “Isn’t it f—— wild that Hollywood in general is very anti-gun, but they promote guns more than any other media on the planet?” Joe Rogan uses examples from movies like The Gray Man, The Terminal List, and Mission Impossible to demonstrate how weapons were the primary tool used by the protagonists to rescue the day. He explained, “Guns save the day. Guns k— aliens. Guns k— werewolves. Guns k— everyone. Everyone bad gets k—– by guns, but guns are bad and you shouldn’t have guns.”

It is worth noting that gun violence in Hollywood films has escalated considerably over time, particularly in movies aimed at teenagers. According to research, gun-related acts in PG-13 films nearly tripled between 1985 and 2015, while depictions of gun violence in prime-time TV dramas doubled from 2000 to 2018. Despite popular criticism of firearms, the entertainment industry has constantly relied on them to tell action-packed stories, from 1930s mafia flicks to recent blockbusters. Beyond mere depiction, Hollywood has significant financial links to the firearms industry. Firearm manufacturers often collaborate with production companies to ensure their products receive adequate screen time.

In fact, in 2010, Glock received a lifetime achievement award for product placement for featuring in 22 box office No. 1 movies that year. So, when Joe Rogan called it out, Jon Jones thought the opinion was worth sharing, so he shared the video on his Instagram story.

With Joe Rogan and Jones highlighting these inconsistencies, the debate over Hollywood’s portrayal of guns versus its public messaging continues to gather pace. However, this isn’t the first time that the JRE host talked about Hollywood and guns since he also heaped praise on one of the biggest names in Hollywood who helped shape one of pop culture’s most popular action hero.

Joe Rogan reveals the master who turned Keanu Reeves into John Wick

Keanu Reeves has long been a fan favorite in the action film genre, but his transformation into the lethal protagonist John Wick was more than just acting; it was the product of extensive weapons instruction under a true master. On The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, Rogan revealed that 13-time National Champion Taran Butler was responsible for Reeves’ deadly precision in the John Wick franchise. “He taught Keanu Reeves for all the John Wick movies,” Joe Rogan shared. “He taught Halle Berry when she was in John Wick. He teaches anytime, like a celebrity needs to learn how to look like a real assassin.”

Taran Butler is more than just an instructor; he’s a shooting legend. The UFC commentator acknowledged his expertise, noting that Butler dominates the competitive shooting scene. “He’s a multiple-time champion… they have a course, and you run the course, and they time you, and that guy wins all those f—— things. He’s a wizard.” Taran Butler’s reputation as one of America’s best sports shooters has made him the go-to guy for Hollywood’s most famous action performers. His company, Taran Tactical Innovations (TTI), specializes in competition firearm modification, and his influence can be noticed in John Wick’s realistic gunplay.

Beyond the films, Butler and Keanu Reeves have a solid relationship that has developed over years of training together. Butler has frequently commended Reeves’ dedication, saying that the actor immerses himself in training to improve his trade. Butler’s talent has helped Reeves set a new bar for gun-fu action, making John Wick one of Hollywood’s most realistic and thrilling action franchises. But it equally proves Joe Rogan’s point that despite preaching against it, Hollywood goes above and beyond to make firearms look cool. What do you think? Do you agree with his opinion? Let us know in the comments.