Bowen Yang backed his podcast co-host Matt Rogers when Rogers told listeners not to donate to Rep. Jasmine Crockett’s Senate campaign, agreeing that such donations would be a “waste” of money and aligning with the argument that she is already too politically “defined” to win a statewide race in Texas. These remarks, framed as a strategic take on Democratic electability, quickly drew backlash online from people who saw the comments as dismissive of Crockett and of Black women candidates more broadly.

What he actually said

On a recent episode of the Las Culturistas podcast, Matt Rogers looked ahead to future Democratic races and warned listeners: “Do not send your money to Jasmine Crockett…you’re going to waste your money,” arguing she was too well known and politically defined to win a Texas Senate race. Bowen Yang explicitly agreed on air, responding that he “must agree” and echoing the idea that money is “hard enough to come by,” so donors should not give to Crockett’s campaign.

How it was interpreted

Many listeners and commenters felt the remarks went beyond neutral strategy talk and into telling people how they should spend their political donations, which they saw as overstepping for celebrity podcasters who do not live in Texas. Critics also argued that calling Crockett “too defined” echoed a pattern where women, especially Black women, are labeled unelectable or “too much” before voters have a chance to decide, tying this to past narratives about figures like Kamala Harris.

Fallout and ongoing reaction

The clip spread widely on social media, prompting accusations of political elitism and undermining grassroots organizing, with some pointing out Crockett’s record of traveling and campaigning for other Democrats during recent election cycles. As criticism mounted, reports noted that Bowen Yang restricted comments on his social accounts, and as of the latest coverage there has not been a formal public apology from him specifically about the “waste your money” remarks.

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