Top Spotify executive calls Rogan backlash a ‘real learning experience’

A top Spotify executive said at a conference that backlash to podcaster Joe Rogan on the platform has been a “real learning experience.”

A few celebrities have dropped their music from Spotify and other listeners have spoken out against the platform for keeping Rogan’s podcast after he spread COVID-19 misinformation.

He has also faced recent criticism for his repeated past use of racial slurs.

“We do feel that we have a responsibility to support creator expression, but also balance that creator expression with safety for our users and for our advertisers,” chief content officer Dawn Ostroff said at the Interactive Advertising Bureau annual conference, Reuters reported.

“We have been speaking to Joe Rogan and to his team about some of the content … of his shows, particularly his history of racially insensitive language, and Joe decided to take episodes off of our platform,” Ostroff added.

Rogan signed a $100 million deal with Spotify in 2020 that stipulated that the company would have no editorial control over the podcast, Ostroff said, according to Reuters. 

Rogan over the weekend released a five-minute apology video for his past use of racial slurs, and Spotify has said he won’t be removed from the platform.

Rogan said Tuesday he is baffled by the controversy surrounding his show, especially about his hesitancy about the COVID-19 vaccine. 

“I talk shit for a living — that’s why this is so baffling to me,” Rogan said. “If you’re taking vaccine advice from me, is that really my fault? What dumb shit were you about to do when my stupid idea sounded better? ‘You know that dude who made people people eat animal dicks on TV? How does he feel about medicine?’ If you want my advice, don’t take my advice.”