Joe Rogan breaks silence on Golden Globes podcast snub as he shares real reason for missing out on award: 'I am number one!'

"They asked me to submit to be nominated for the Golden Globes, and you had to pay $500, and the $500 is like for paperwork or whatever," Mr Rogan said. "I said no."

The submission fee, billed as covering administrative costs, proved a sticking point for the host, whose show ranked among the 25 most popular podcasts eligible for consideration based on listener figures.

Mr Rogan made clear his fundamental objection to participating in such ceremonies, expressing contempt for the entire concept of industry awards.

He stated: "I don't want to be a part of that. I don't care. You're just a group of people that just decide, all of a sudden, that you're going to give an award out."

The host's dismissal of the accolade grew more emphatic as he continued his critique.

Mr Rogan exclaimed: "I get a trophy'? F*** off!"

The podcast host's comments caused a frenzy online, with many viewers left shocked that the awards ceremony requires a submission fee.

"They make the nominees pay for their nomination? What?" asked one confused fan, while another penned: "A submission fee for a nomination? That's a bold strategy."

"Yeah, the awards shows were once a big deal, but they've run their course and are now largely obsolete since they no longer control exposure," said another.

A fourth added: "Joe is a national treasure. Best response ever."

Others praised Mr Rogan's take on the submission fee, saying: "He is correct. That is corrupt."

His comments reflected a broader scepticism about the legitimacy of such honours, particularly when applied to a medium where audience metrics already provide clear indicators of success.

Mr Rogan justified his stance by pointing to his unrivalled position in the podcasting landscape, arguing that chart performance speaks louder than any trophy.

"I already won. You can't tell me I didn't win. I've been number one for six years in a row," he declared.

The Joe Rogan Experience has maintained its position as Spotify's top podcast for five consecutive years, whilst also claiming the leading spot on both Apple Podcasts and YouTube rankings for 2025.

Mr Rogan questioned the logic of a formal competition overriding such demonstrable success.

He said: "All of a sudden, you're going to have a contest in front of all these people wearing tuxedos and you're going to say now I'm not number one? F*** off, I don't care that I'm number one, but I am, in fact, number one."

Comedian and actress Amy Poehler claimed the inaugural honour for her talk show Good Hang, which launched in 2025.

Mr Rogan offered measured praise for the winner whilst acknowledging the controversy surrounding her victory.

"I'm sure it's good. It won. I'm sure someone must love it. If it sucked, they would give it to someone else, right?" he remarked.

However, he noted the backlash that followed the announcement.

"I just know that Amy Poehler won and a lot of people are upset," Mr Rogan observed. "She's had a podcast for six months and she won. Great, you gave it to a famous person. Which, you know, in that world that's what they do."

American television host and comedian Bill Maher had previously criticised the Golden Globes as "f****** smug arseholes" for overlooking Rogan's programme.

Mr Rogan was not alone in declining to participate in the awards process.

Representatives for Megyn Kelly confirmed that she similarly chose not to formally submit The Megyn Kelly Show for consideration, having previously described the nomination procedure as a "dog and pony show" she found farcical.

The six podcasts that did receive nominations for the inaugural award were Good Hang with Amy Poehler, SmartLess, hosted by Poehler's former husband Will Arnett alongside Jason Bateman and Sean Hayes, Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard, Alex Cooper's Call Her Daddy, The Mel Robbins Podcast, and NPR's Up First.