In the wake of much controversy surrounding recent guests on his show, as well as unearthed past racial slurs, Joe Rogan still has the backing of his biggest platform.
Spotify CEO Daniel Ek on Sunday sent a memo to the company’s employees saying that while Rogan’s comments are “incredibly hurtful” and “do not represent the values of this company,” Rogan still has a home at Spotify. Spotify in 2020 paid a reported $100 million for “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast.
“While I strongly condemn what Joe has said and I agree with his decision to remove past episodes from our platform, I realize some will want more,” Ek said in the memo. “And I want to make one point very clear – I do not believe that silencing Joe is the answer. We should have clear lines around content and take action when they are crossed, but canceling voices is a slippery slope. Looking at the issue more broadly, it’s critical thinking and open debate that powers real and necessary progress.”
