Following the news that UFC commentator Joe Rogan had tested positive for COVID-19, reports came out that Rogan was taking a "horse dewormer" to treat the virus. Now he has asked if he should sue CNN over what he is calling fake news.
Ivermectin is an anthelmintic drug used to combat parasitic diseases in both humans and animals. In Nigeria, the drug was used to combat river blindness.
After testing positive for the virus, Rogan took to social media sharing that he had started taking medications immediately to treat himself for COVID-19 despite repeated calls by medical professionals not to touch the dewormer.
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In the list, he shared that he was taking Ivermectin. This found its way into numerous headlines about the comedian.
In his latest podcast, featuring Tom Segura, Rogan has asked the question, "Do I have to sue CNN?"
Rogan started his first show since recovering from the virus on the topic, saying that he got his medication from a doctor at an American company who won a Nobel Prize in 2015 for the work the drug did in humans. However, he did not share the name of the company.
"CNN is saying I'm taking horse dewormer," Rogan said. "They must know that's a lie."
It is important to note that there are two different kinds of Ivermectin, one used for animals and another for humans.
The Food and Drug Administration has not approved either for treatment against COVID-19. Still, it is recommending that humans do not ingest animal Ivermectin as some are being hospitalized from taking it.
Rogan implied that he received medication meant for humans, but did not say precisely where he got it.
While Rogan knows that the people at CNN are not the only ones saying he took "horse de-wormer," he said he is more worried that a media giant has made the claims.
"A lot of people can say it. Like if the internet says it, who cares," Rogan said. "But CNN is saying it."
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Earlier this summer, Rogan came under fire when he said that younger people should not take the vaccine.
This summer, he also had Dr. Pierre Kory, who works for the Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care alliance, on "The Joe Rogan Experience," where he talked about Ivermectin, claiming it helped treat the virus.
Rogan said that he took the advice of Kory, and other doctors, who told him to take Ivermectin after testing positive.
Rogan went on to say that he has since recovered from the virus, saying he thinks there is a stigma around anyone who treats COVID-19 in any way other than the vaccine.
Still, he is impressed at the time it took him to recover from the virus, following the regimen he did.
"What's crazy is look how better I got. I got better pretty quick," Rogan said.
