Major Controversies Surrounding Jordan Peterson: A Detailed Timeline

Public opinion and media debates around Jordan Peterson—discover key moments of controversy.

Jordan Peterson is a Canadian psychologist, author, and media commentator known for his conservative-leaning views on cultural and political issues. While often described as conservative, Peterson identifies as a classical liberal and traditionalist. He gained prominence in the late 2010s, sparking significant debate and discussion.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

September 2016: Criticism of Bill C-16

In September 2016, Peterson released a series of videos criticizing Bill C-16.

2016: Criticism of Bill C-16

In 2016, Peterson released a series of YouTube videos criticizing a Canadian law (Bill C-16) that prohibited discrimination against gender identity and expression. This led to significant media coverage and controversy.

April 2017: Denied SSHRC Grant

In April 2017, Jordan Peterson was denied a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) grant, leading to claims of retaliation for his statements regarding Bill C-16.

May 2017: Spoke Against Bill C-16

In May 2017, Jordan Peterson spoke against Bill C-16 at a Canadian Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs hearing as one of 24 witnesses invited to speak about the bill.

November 2017: Lindsay Shepherd Censure

In November 2017, Lindsay Shepherd, a teaching assistant at Wilfrid Laurier University, was censured for showing a clip of Peterson debating Bill C-16, sparking controversy. The censure was later withdrawn and the university apologized.

February 2018: Agreement with the College of Psychologists of Ontario

In February 2018, Peterson entered into an agreement with the College of Psychologists of Ontario (CPO) after a professional misconduct complaint.

March 2019: Cambridge University Rescinds Fellowship Invitation

In March 2019, Cambridge University rescinded a visiting fellowship invitation to Jordan Peterson, citing concerns over his association with a man wearing an Islamophobic shirt and the university's commitment to inclusivity.

March 2020: Investigation by the College of Psychologists of Ontario

In March 2020, the College of Psychologists of Ontario investigated statements made by Peterson, but concluded without making any orders.

November 2020: Penguin Random House Town Hall Criticism

On 23 November 2020, Peterson's publisher Penguin Random House Canada (PRH Canada) held an internal town hall where many employees criticized the decision to publish his book.

January 2022: Interview on The Joe Rogan Experience

In January 2022, Jordan Peterson was interviewed by Joe Rogan on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, where he made controversial statements about climate modeling.

January 2022: ICRC investigation into public statements

In January 2022, some of the language used in Jordan Peterson's public statements was investigated by the ICRC.

June 2022: ICRC investigation into public statements

In June 2022, some of the language used in Jordan Peterson's public statements was investigated by the ICRC.

June 2022: Suspension of Twitter Account

On 29 June 2022, Peterson's Twitter account was suspended under the site's "hateful conduct policy" after posting a tweet misgendering and deadnaming transgender actor Elliot Page.

November 2022: Order for Remedial Program by ICRC

In November 2022, the ICRC ordered Peterson to complete a continuing education or remedial program regarding professionalism in public statements.

November 2022: Restoration of Twitter Account

Peterson's Twitter account was restored in November 2022 after Elon Musk acquired the company.

2022: Olivia Wilde's comments about Peterson

During a press tour to promote her 2022 film "Don't Worry Darling", Olivia Wilde said the sinister character Frank was inspired by Peterson, describing him as "this insane man, Jordan Peterson, who is this pseudo-intellectual hero to the incel community." Peterson responded to Wilde's statements calling the film "the latest bit of propaganda disseminated by the woke, self-righteous bores and bullies who now dominate Hollywood" and criticizing the term "incel".

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2022: Appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience

In 2022, Peterson appeared on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast and made several controversial statements regarding climate change, denying the accuracy of climate modeling and confusing it with weather forecasting. He also cited Fred Singer and falsely asserted that fracking has not polluted water supplies. His statements were criticized by climate scientists such as John Abraham and Michael E. Mann.

2022: Initial decision by the College of Psychologists of Ontario

In 2022, the ICRC made its initial decision regarding Jordan Peterson's public statements.

August 2023: Judicial Review Upholding CPO's Decision

In August 2023, Peterson's appeal was reviewed by the Ontario Divisional Court, who upheld the college's initial decision and ordered Peterson to pay legal costs.

November 2023: Alliance for Responsible Citizenship Conference

In November 2023, the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship, an organization affiliated with Peterson, held a three-day conference. Peterson stated that "We do not believe that humanity is necessarily and inevitably teetering on the brink of apocalyptic disaster." The conference hosted several speakers who downplayed the extent of anthropogenic climate change and promoted the use of fossil fuels. Attendee and biologist Jennifer Marohasy characterized the conference as a platform for spreading climate change denialism.

January 2024: Decision Upheld on Appeal

In January 2024, the decision was upheld on appeal to the Court of Appeal for Ontario.

August 2024: Supreme Court Declines Appeal

In August 2024, the Supreme Court of Canada declined to hear an appeal from the appeal court decision, closing Peterson's legal options for resisting the social media training.

October 2024: Trudeau's Statement and Potential Legal Action

In October 2024, Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau said under oath that Peterson was funded by Russian state-owned media outlet RT. In response, Peterson said he was considering legal action.

November 7, 2024: Lawsuit Dismissed

On November 7, 2024, Jordan Peterson's lawsuit against Wilfrid Laurier University was dismissed by the court.

November 24, 2024: Criticism in The Guardian

On November 24, 2024, Martha Gill in The Guardian criticized Jordan Peterson for tapping into the self-improvement market among young men and advocating a form of spirituality as a route, given that religion was in decline among members of that cohort.

2024: Publication of "We Who Wrestle with God"

In 2024, Peterson published "We Who Wrestle with God", an analytical reading of the Bible. The book received mixed reviews, with Christianity Today praising its exegesis but noting its slipperiness on theological truth, while The Times criticized it as unreadable and paranoid and The Guardian criticized Peterson's contempt for nuance and disagreement.

We Who Wrestle with God: Perceptions of the Divine

Check it on Amazon

May 2025: Debate with Atheists

In May 2025, Peterson engaged in a debate with 20 atheists hosted by Jubilee Media. The debate, originally titled "1 Christian vs. 20 atheists", went viral on social media. During the debate, Peterson refused to identify as a Christian, leading to a title change to "Jordan Peterson vs. 20 atheists".