The r-word has never really gone away, Massanari said — many people still use the word in private, and controversial far-right influencers and some members of the former “ dirtbag left ...

“The word ‘retarded’ is back, and it’s one of the great cultural victories that I think is spurred on, probably, by podcasts,” he added. Rogan is right, at least to those in some circles.

The slur, which has been used to discriminate against people with disabilities, is finding popularity online again. But its implications are bigger than one word, experts say.