Spotify CEO says company won’t cancel Joe Rogan after N-word controversy

Daniel Ek confirmed in a letter Spotify has had talks with Joe Rogan about his use of "some racially insensitive language."
AP Picture/TT/Janerik Henriksson

Spotify CEO Daniel Ek informed staffers Sunday that the corporate won't be “canceling” Joe Rogan after a clip of the podcaster utilizing the N-word went viral.

Ek defined his place on Rogan in a prolonged letter to staff that criticized Rogan’s feedback however fell in need of taking motion towards the controversial host.

“Not solely are a few of Joe Rogan’s feedback extremely hurtful – I wish to clarify that they don't symbolize the values of this firm,” Ek wrote within the memo, which was obtained by Axios.

“Whereas I strongly condemn what Joe has stated … I notice some will need extra,” he stated.

“I wish to make one level very clear – I don't imagine that silencing Joe is the reply. We must always have clear strains round content material and take motion when they're crossed, however canceling voices is a slippery slope.”

Rogan, 54, dropped the N-word nearly two dozen occasions whereas internet hosting his wildly fashionable podcast, “The Joe Rogan Expertise,” based on newly unearthed clips.

The podcaster referred to as the viral compilation “probably the most regretful and shameful factor I’ve ever needed to speak about publicly” on Friday, saying the video was a collage of “out of context” snippets from “12 years of conversations.”

Ek confirmed within the letter that the corporate has had talks with Rogan about his use of “some racially insensitive language.”

Following the discussions, Rogan eliminated a few of his podcast episodes from Spotify, based on Ek.

Joe Rogan apologized after a video compilation surfaced that confirmed him utilizing racial slurs in clips of episodes over a 12-year span.

AP Picture/Gregory Payan, File

Spotify additionally caught by Rogan amid his preliminary scandal surrounding COVID-19 misinformation on his podcast.

Legendary rocker Neil Younger and several other different notable musicians yanked their catalogs off Spotify after the corporate failed to chop ties with Rogan over the coronavirus controversy.

In Sunday’s letter, Ek additionally knowledgeable staffers that Spotify could be investing $100 million to assist enhance range on the platform.

“I'm committing to an incremental funding of $100 million for the licensing, growth, and advertising of music (artists and songwriters) and audio content material from traditionally marginalized teams,” he wrote.