Podcaster Joe Rogan has come forward with allegations that two unnamed former presidents were involved in pressuring Spotify to remove his content due to his controversial comments on COVID-19. During a recent interview, Rogan mentioned that he learned of the backlash against Spotify from these former officials, highlighting the broader controversy surrounding his discussions about the pandemic.
In 2022, Spotify faced significant criticism for allowing Rogan, one of its most popular podcasters, to continue spreading what progressive critics labeled as misinformation about the virus. The controversy drew attention when musician Neil Young famously removed his content from Spotify in protest, expressing dissatisfaction with sharing a platform with Rogan during the pandemic. Rogan recounted how he first became aware of Neil Young’s protest, stating, ‘What the f— is going on? This is crazy.’ He also mentioned the calls from two former presidents, though he did not specify their identities.
Rogan criticized how some media outlets handled his use of Ivermectin to treat his COVID-19 symptoms, with some outlets misrepresenting it as a horse dewormer. He argued that the media’s focus shifted from the health implications to the treatment itself, which he felt was a misrepresentation of the facts. This criticism further underscored his growing skepticism of the liberal media landscape, which he described as being driven by commercial interests rather than a genuine concern for public health.
Despite the backlash, Rogan claimed his podcast gained a significant number of subscribers, suggesting that his audience remained loyal even amid the controversy. He also described the experience as a ‘wake-up call’ that made him reconsider his views on the media landscape, expressing a sense of disillusionment with the current state of journalism.
Meanwhile, Spotify’s chief executive, Daniel Ek, addressed the pushback against hosting Rogan during the company’s earnings call in February 2022. Ek emphasized that the company’s policies would not change based on the reactions of any single creator, stating, ‘I think the important part here is that we don’t change our policies based on one creator, nor do we change it based on any media cycle.’ He reiterated that the company’s policies were based on input from internal and external experts in the field, asserting that they were appropriate for the platform.
As the controversy continues to unfold, both Rogan and Spotify find themselves at the center of a larger debate about the role of media in shaping public discourse, especially during times of crisis. The situation underscores the complex interplay between free speech, misinformation, and the responsibilities of platforms in the digital age.