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Joe Rogan's reach is so wide it extends from former Fear Factor host to the most listened-to podcast host; from UFC commentator to a member of Donald Trump's inner circle to a father of three. But how many people know he's also cousins with one of the most well-known emo singers in the game?
Rogan, by his own revelation, is related to Gerard Way — frontman of My Chemical Romance, the alt-rock band who spawned an entire generation of emo fans with 2000s bangers like "Welcome to the Black Parade," "Helena" and "Teenagers."
Filmmaker and actor Kevin Smith — of Jay and Silent Bob fame — spoke to Rogan about the familial connection on an October 2019 episode of the former UFC commentator's eponymous podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience.
"I gotta ask a question on behalf of somebody else," Smith began, proceeding to list a series of queries.
"Your grandmother? Named Josie? Gerard Way? Lead singer of My Chemical Romance?"
Rogan, who responded "yes" to every question, seemed to know exactly where Smith was headed with his line of questioning.
"Yeah, we're related," he said of his relationship with Way — who, as it turned out, was the one to text Smith with the revelation in the first place.
"That's what he said!" exclaimed Smith, who worked with the "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)" artist on the soundtrack for Clerks 3.
Reading the text exchange, Smith said as soon as Way knew that he was doing Rogan's podcast, the alternative rocker made a shocking admission.
"He goes, 'I don't have 100 percent confirmation on this, but I'm pretty sure … I think my aunt Josie was his grandmother,'" Smith read.
"I don't know him, but we're cousins," Rogan confirmed. (If Way's aunt is Rogan's grandmother, that would make them first cousins once removed. if Josie was Way's great-aunt, that would make him and Rogan second cousins.)
Smith, for his part, was blown away by the news.
"How crazy that two people in the same family became super f***ing famous and don't even…?" he asked.
"Yeah, we don't know each other," Rogan laughed.
Because Rogan is related to Gerard, that also means that he and MCR bassist Mikey Way, Gerard's brother, are also cousins.
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