Music streaming service takes down dozens of “The Joe Rogan Experience” videos.
QUICK FACTS:
- Spotify has taken down 113 episodes of the Joe Rogan Experience, according to Forbes.
- The total comes from a website called JRE Missing, which tracks episodes of Rogan’s podcast that have been pulled from Spotify.
- Forbes said it confirmed that the episodes are not available on the streaming service, the disappearance of 70 episodes previously being reported by CNET.
- All of the episodes were recorded before the coronavirus pandemic took off in the United States, except for one, making it unlikely their removal was linked to Rogan’s dubious claims about Covid-19.
- Bloomberg reported Rogan had made the decision himself to remove the episodes, after consulting with Spotify.
- Author and speaker Jordan Peterson retweeted the Forbes article and characterized the removal of Rogan’s podcasts as a “Book burning,” adding, “Or, more precisely: library burning.”
- Peterson also quoted George Orwell, writing, “‘he who controls the past controls the future,'” telling Spotify to “stop this now.”
INTERVIEWEES ON FORBIDDEN J.R.E. PODCASTS:
- As of April, Spotify had removed more than 40 episodes of Rogan’s podcasts, including one with Alex Jones, Milo Yiannopoulos, and Gavin Mcinnes, since its 2020 deal with Rogan to host his podcast, Forbes reports.
BACKGROUND:
- Rogan posted an Instagram video Saturday apologizing for his use of racial slurs on his show and likening a predominantly Black neighborhood to the movie the Planet of the Apes, saying it was a “teachable moment” for him, Forbes notes.
- The apology came after the musician India.Arie posted an Instagram video this week compiling times he used such language.
- Last month, rock star Neil Young demanded Spotify remove either his music or Rogan’s podcast from the music streaming platform because he was upset over comments Rogan made about Covid-19 vaccines on the Joe Rogan Experience.
- Spotify sided with Rogan, saying, “We regret Neil’s decision to remove his music from Spotify, but hope to welcome him back soon.”
