Joe Rogan recently shared an emotional moment on JRE #2315, expressing a serious, haunting feeling about his late buddy Anthony Bourdain. The two bonded over Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, an odd link considering Bourdain’s reputation as a sensitive, poetic figure. The JRE host described how, despite starting at the age of 58, Bourdain became deeply committed to the martial art, training every day and even fitting it in while recording his shows. However, the tone changed when the same UFC commentator spoke about the awful day he learned of the fact that Bourdain took his own life, as he made an honest confession.
One could feel the pain in his voice as he described how, after joking with Maynard James Keenan about a celebrity Jiu-Jitsu match between Bourdain and himself, he received a mysterious message from Maynard in Chicago that completely shook his world. While in Chicago preparing for a show, the JRE host received a text from Keenan saying, “So much for that celebrity Jiu-Jitsu match.” Rogan wasn’t sure what to make of it at first, but the unsettling feeling it sparked led him to quickly search online. He discovered the tragic news of Anthony Bourdain’s death. “I have this feeling, and then I see the news, and then it all hits me. I’m like, ‘Oh f—,’” the JRE host said, his voice filled with sadness as he remembered the incident that would haunt him forever.
Joe Rogan further opened up about the lingering regret that frequently accompanies such a traumatic loss. The UFC commentator expressed a common reaction when someone close to them takes their own life: the gut-wrenching realization that they could have done anything to prevent it. “There are moments when people take their own life where the worst feeling is, ‘I feel like if I was there, I could have stopped him from doing that,’” Rogan said, his voice quivering with sorrow. “It’s that feeling like he just was alone.”
MMA: UFC 274-Cortez vs Gatto, May 7, 2022; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; UFC host Joe Rogan during UFC 274 at Footprint Center.
The JRE host then paused to think on the value of being connected with others, especially during difficult times. “You don’t want to leave these people behind. You don’t want to hurt them. You don’t want to hurt your family.” He underlined the significance of remembering that even in times of sorrow, people are not alone—there is always someone who cares. “Sometimes you just know you’re not alone, and you’re going to be okay. Like, whatever you think is going to be the worst thing that’s happening here—it’s not. You’re loved. You’re loved.” It definitely looks like Rogan is still not over the passing of his dear friend. In fact, this isn’t the first time that he has talked about his friend’s passing either.
Joe Rogan reveals how Anthony Bourdain’s death severely affected him
The weight of Anthony Bourdain’s death is still apparent in Joe Rogan’s voice, and if his exchange with José Andrés demonstrated anything, it was that the sadness has not lessened over time. The JRE host had already spoken openly about his friend’s untimely death. In fact, two years ago, during an emotional talk with comic Sam Morril on another JRE show, Joe Rogan revealed how severely Bourdain’s death affected him. “When he died, I was f—– up for a while,” he admitted, his words heavy, not just with grief but with lingering disbelief.
Their friendship began as a dream for Joe Rogan—an accidental meeting with someone he genuinely respected that swiftly bloomed into something real. “He’s just like a guy that I was so excited that he was my friend,” Rogan stated, recalling their first conversation. Their friendship came out of a mutual love of MMA and humor, but what the UFC commentator remembers most are the personal moments—dinners, UFC events, and inside jokes—that made the connection feel effortless. Being with Bourdain, particularly over meals, was unreal. “It’s like, you were with Bourdain. The chefs would all come out… ‘Let us cook for you.’”
Even now, Joe Rogan clings to what little he has left—a phone number he refuses to delete because it has old texts and photos Bourdain sent him. That digital tie to the past provides both solace and a sad reminder. “I think if I was there, I could have helped,” he added, his voice falling off beneath the weight of the concept. It’s not the type of remorse that fades with time; it clings, gnaws, and keeps drawing him back to that single horrifying question: What if I could have stopped him? What do you think? Were you surprised by the surprise passing of the celebrity chef as well? Let us know in the comments.
The post “I Could Have Stopped Him”- Joe Rogan Haunted by Anthony Bourdain’s Controversy as an Important Message Shared by JRE Host appeared first on EssentiallySports.
