Amid his covid-19 information controversy, a compilation video of Joe Rogan allegedly saying the n-word has surfaced. Now more people are calling for artists to remove their music from Spotify and for subscribers to cancel their subscriptions.
“#DeleteSpotify,” articles about how to cancel your Spotify subscription, and criticism from people online have all been circling through the internet as the music streaming platform continues to face backlash over its decision to keep controversial podcast host Joe Rogan. While Rogan and his podcast The Joe Rogan Experience has allegedly faced some backlash over the years for the content in his podcast, the volume was turned all the way up after Canadian-American singer Neil Young pulled his music from the platform over Rogan’s spewing of false COVID-19 information.
“Spotify represents 60 percent of the streaming of my music to listeners around the world,” said Young on his website. “Yet my record label stood with me, recognising the threat the Covid misinformation on Spotify posed to the world – particularly for our young people who think everything they hear on Spotify is true. Unfortunately, it is not.”
In 2019, Spotify reportedly paid $100 million for the exclusive streaming rights to Rogan’s podcast, and since then, they have let listeners know they would be taking steps to let people know about Rogan’s COVID-19 misinformation. While Rogan has apologized, calling the talks on his podcast “just conversations,” more of Rogan’s behavior is coming out on and off the platform.
This week, artist and songwriter Tiffany Red posted a resurfaced compilation video of Rogan allegedly saying the racial slur ni**er.” He allegedly uses the slur in standup in some clips, and in other clips, he allegedly urges guests on his podcast to say it.
“TRIGGER WARNING – I’m disgusted! #deletespotify #whatifweleave #joerogan btw I didn’t use bleeped out version because I want you to hear him loud and clear!” wrote Red in her Instagram post. At the end of her video, she called for people to leave the platform.
On Wednesday, Spotify CEO Daniel Ek addressed some of Rogen’s COVID-19 misinformation controversy, saying they are trying to “trying to balance creative expression with the safety of our users.”
“Of course, this is a very complicated issue,” Ek said during a company post-earnings call on Wednesday, CNN reports. “But I’m really proud of the steps that we took following the concerns raised by the medical and scientific communities.” Rogan claims he is “sorry” and that he will “try to balance views.”
