Howard Stern has a message for critics who say he’s gone “woke”: you’re damn right he has — and he’s not backing down.

The 71-year-old SiriusXM host, once notorious for shock radio segments that gleefully pushed the limits of taste and decency, has in recent years remade himself as an unapologetic political commentator. On his show Monday, Stern addressed a YouTube clip of a fan lamenting that he’s “not good anymore” because he’s become “woke.”

“I hear that a lot that I’m not good anymore because I’m woke,” Stern said. “By the way, I kind of take that as a compliment. I am woke, motherf–ker, and I love it.”

From Shock Jock to Self-Described “Woke”

Howard Stern hits back at critics who call him 'woke'

The self-proclaimed “King of All Media” rose to fame in the ’80s and ’90s with radio bits and celebrity interviews that often drew FCC fines for indecency. But over the last decade, Stern has recast himself as an outspoken critic of Donald Trump — a former friend — and an unabashed supporter of progressive causes.

On Monday’s broadcast, Stern drew a line between being “woke” and being “asleep.”

“If woke means I can’t get behind Trump, or that I support people who want to be transgender, or I’m for the vaccine — dude, call me woke as you f–king want,” he said.

Aiming at Boebert, Defending Science

The latest comments came as Stern also took aim at Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), calling her “a disgrace to this country” over her recent behavior at a Denver theater.

The veteran broadcaster, a self-confessed germaphobe, also reaffirmed his strong pro-vaccine stance.

“I’m not for stupidity, you know,” Stern said. “I ran out Friday morning [to get inoculated]. I was over at CVS… Thank you, CVS… F–king science. This f–king country is so great.”

Elections, News, and the Meaning of “Awake”

Howard Stern hits back at critics who call him 'woke'

Stern said that being “woke” also means trusting credible journalism and rejecting baseless conspiracy theories — including Donald Trump’s false claim that the 2020 presidential election was rigged.

“I want to be awake,” Stern said. “I want to read legitimate news sources… I believe the election was not rigged. I am woke. I think that’s a compliment.”

A Divisive Evolution

Stern’s embrace of progressive politics and social causes has alienated some longtime fans who first tuned in for his brand of unfiltered, often offensive humor. In 2020, he declared on-air that he “hates” those who voted for Trump. Earlier this year, he publicly defended transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney amid a conservative-led boycott of Bud Light.

This “new” Stern is a stark departure from the one who, for decades, built his empire on provocation. He once fat-shamed Precious star Gabourey Sidibe on-air, calling her “the most enormous, fat black chick I’ve ever seen,” and joked in 1992 about masturbating to the image of Aunt Jemima — quips that led to hefty FCC fines.

Owning the Criticism

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Now, Stern appears to view those past moments through a different lens. While he hasn’t renounced his earlier career, he’s clear that the label his critics use to mock him is one he’ll gladly wear.

“Here’s how woke I am,” he said Monday. “I believe the election was not rigged. I support the vaccine. I support people who want to be transgender. Call me woke all you want.”

And with that, Howard Stern — once the poster child for radio’s boundary-pushing antiheroes — has made it official: the shock jock is wide awake, and he’s fine with you knowing it.