Andrew Yang tweets — and deletes — support for Joe Rogan

Former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang took heat from social media on Sunday after he shared a tweet appearing to support podcaster Joe Rogan amid a new scandal after Rogan was found to have used the N-word on past podcast episodes of "The Joe Rogan Experience."

What are the details?

Yang on Sunday spoke out on the latest Rogan controversy and said that he simply didn't believe the popular podcaster — with whom he's had several on-air discussions — is racist.

On Twitter, he wrote, "I don't think Joe Rogan is a racist — the man interacts with and works with black people literally all of the time. Do I know black friends of Joe's who would swear by him? Yes I do."

Following heavy backlash, Yang deleted the tweet and explained his decision in doing so in a later thread.

"I like to believe the best of people — especially if I've met and spent time with that person," he said. "Sometimes it makes me miss something. I think we should have the capacity to forgive people — whether a podcaster or mayor — if they mess up. Maybe it's because I mess up too."

Yang explained that he realized his mistake in tweeting support for Rogan after backlash ensued.

He continued, "Racism is real, deep, corrosive, and even lethal. I know that. I made a mistake in an earlier tweet tonight that downplayed these realities."

“I deleted the tweet because it was wrong-headed," he added and issued an apology to those he offended with the remarks. "It also hurt people, which is never my intent. I’m sorry. I’m learning and appreciate those who reached out to express their feelings."

Yang went on, "I like to believe the work I’ve done these past years had the goal of uplifting everyone, particularly those on the outside looking in for any reason, be it poverty or marginalization or race. I’ve always wanted to help those with the least the most.”

He concluded, "I’m going to keep doing all I can for a more fair, equitable, and just country. That means for everyone. Universal Basic Income, Democracy Reform and unity are how we get there."

What else?

Rogan spoke out about the latest controversy over the weekend and said that he's not racist.

On Saturday, he shared a video to Instagram in which he explained his feelings on the developing scandal.

He captioned the video, "There’s been a lot of s**t from the old episodes of the podcast that I wish I hadn’t said, or had said differently. This is my take on the worst of it."

"I know that to most people, there is no context where a white person is ever allowed to say that word, never mind publicly on a podcast, and I agree with that now,” Rogan said in the widely watched video. “Instead of saying the N-word, I would just say the word. I thought as long as it was in context, people would understand what I was doing.”

“I never used it to be racist, because I’m not racist,” Rogan added. “But whenever you’re in a situation where you have to say, ‘I’m not racist,’ you f***ed up. And I clearly have f***ed up."

(H/T: The Daily Wire)