Bowen Yang apologizes for discouraging donations to Rep. Jasmine Crockett campaign

Bowen Yang has apologized following backlash over agreeing with comments on his “Las Culturistas” podcast that urged listeners not to donate to Rep. Jasmine Crockett’s U.S. Senate campaign in Texas. The remarks were made during an episode posted on Jan. 7 in which co-host Matt Rogers said contributing to Crockett’s campaign would be a “waste” of money because she was already nationally known.

The comments aired weeks after Jasmine Crockett announced her Senate campaign in December, entering a Democratic primary that requires sustained fundraising across one of the most expensive media markets in the country. During the episode, Rogers argued that Crockett’s national visibility made her less viable in a general election and suggested donor money would be better directed elsewhere, a point Yang agreed with at the time.

Critics on social media said that such framing ignored the financial demands of statewide campaigns and risked suppressing small-dollar contributions. The backlash also highlighted broader concerns about race and representation, with Crockett among a small number of Black women seeking statewide office in Texas. Commentators argued that public skepticism about her electability reinforced patterns that disproportionately affect candidates of color.

The podcast’s hosts addressed the controversy in separate public statements, with Rogers first taking to Instagram on Saturday to formally acknowledge the backlash. “I hear the response and I am taking every bit of it to heart, I promise,” Rogers wrote. “Transparency and candor matter to me, especially on the podcast. I’m a very progressive person who cares deeply about winning these elections, but my phrasing was not right. I will be more thoughtful! I really do promise.”

Yang issued his own apology by sharing Rogers’ post, then writing that he “should not have cursorily weighed in on this” and that he understood why the comments drew criticism. The 35-year-old comedian said the response made clear the responsibility that comes with discussing active political races on a large platform and indicated he would be more careful going forward.