Joe Rogan’s Spotify future in doubt

Joe Rogan is likely one of the strongest males in America.

“The Joe Rogan Experience” is the No. 1 podcast on this planet, offering a spot during which he will get to take a seat again, smoke weed and ruminate with friends together with Elon Musk and a slew of scientists like Dr Neil deGrasse Tyson.

But there are rumblings in regards to the podcaster’s future with Spotify — with whom he signed a rumoured three-year $200 million deal in 2020. As the clock counts down, the Swedish-based streamer received’t affirm when his deal is up, solely telling the New York Post that his contract doesn’t finish this 12 months.

It was introduced this week that Max Cutler, the purpose one that taken care of Rogan at Spotify, is leaving the corporate.

Rogan, who’s on a non-exclusive deal, walks a wonderful line with Spotify. The firm has no artistic management over his content material, however he nonetheless has to stick to its tips.

The 55-year-old father of-three — who has beforehand stated, “I talk s*** for a living” — made headlines again in 2021 for his controversial feedback in regards to the Covid vaccine. He claimed, then later apologised for saying that wholesome younger Americans didn’t “need to worry about” getting the jab.

Rogan has additionally confronted backlash over his use of the N-word in older episodes of his podcast, and his feedback on transgender individuals.

And the New York Post is advised that some Spotify staffers have been antagonised by his most up-to-date feedback on Jews, together with saying: “The idea that Jewish people don’t like money is ridiculous. That’s like sayings Italians aren’t into pizza. It’s f***ing stupid.”

As Jonathan Greenblatt, director of the Anti-Defamation League, advised the New York Post: “It’s disturbing that, at a time of rising anti-Jewish violence, when growing numbers of Americans believe in anti-Semitic conspiracy theories, Joe would use his immense platform to spew ant-Semitic tropes about Jews and money. For centuries, people have used these longstanding tropes to spread vicious lies about the Jewish people.”

Reached at his New Jersey dwelling this week, Rogan’s estranged father Joe Rogan Sr., 81, had a message for his son: “Who are you to judge people? Who made you God last night?”

Rogan Sr. advised the New York Post: “I’m not prejudiced. Everybody has got to live and I teach my kids that. This bothers me. The money went to his head and his head got bigger than his hat — he fools people.”

Multiple sources confirmed that Rogan didn’t breach any Spotify tips on the episode, which has not been pulled, however one highly-placed Spotify supply stated that staffers are certainly sad along with his feedback. Another insider revealed that talks are ongoing inside the corporate about whether or not the rules needs to be amended.

The Spotify supply stated the music streaming big is a “complicated platform” and that higher-ups have “stuck by” Rogan.

“His comments did adhere to the company’s policies,” the Spotify supply stated, whereas noting that “not everyone inside the company” was pleased with the coverage.

Spotify tips launched final 12 months state that content material needs to be prevented if it “incites violence or hatred towards a person or group of people based on race, religion … ” or makes “dehumanising statements about a person or group.”

Greenblatt added that though ADL doesn’t “typically” suggest potential punishment or penalties, besides in excessive instances like Kanye West’s anti-Semitic remarks, “It’s extremely disappointing that Joe has not even bothered to address the issue, let alone apologise, and Spotify has pretty much ignored the issue entirely.”

To this, a Spotify spokesperson responded: “Spotify has made — and will continue to make — significant investments in both human and algorithmic detection measures to help ensure our platform provides a safe experience for all, and we remain committed to rigorously enforcing these platform rules.”

Rogan first rose to fame as stand-up comedian, sitcom actor (“News Radio”), host of the sport present “Fear Factor” and UFC commentator. But it wasn’t till 2009, when he began the podcast — which now attracts in a reported 12 million listeners — that Rogan grew to become a cultural phenomenon.

It’s not unhealthy for somebody who as soon as stated, “I’m not a doctor…I’m a f***ing moron.”

In 2020, he left Los Angeles, his dwelling of 20 years, and moved to Austin, Texas, along with his spouse, Jessica and their daughters Rosy and Lola. He additionally adopted his stepdaughter Kayja Rose, 25, an up-and-coming singer, after marrying Jessica in 2009. The household share a sprawling $14.4 million mansion, the place the podcaster additionally has a studio.

Rogan’s dad and mom, Susan and Joe Sr., divorced when he was a younger baby, and Susan took Joe and his sister Laura to San Francisco in 1974, when he was seven years outdated. Joe Sr. stated that, in opposition to his personal needs, he by no means noticed his children once more.

Rogan has accused his father of home violence and described Joe Sr. as a “psychotic person who beat the f–k out of my mother.”

Joe Sr. a former Harrison, NJ, Police Department officer, denies all of the claims and advised The Post he had despatched his son and Spotify a authorized letter final September to power the podcaster to cease speaking about him.

He nonetheless needs to see his son, nonetheless, and needs Rogan to satisfy his twin half-sisters, Bridget Carselda and Rosa, each 43.

The ladies reached out to satisfy their brother once they have been 19, however he rebuffed them, Joe Sr. claimed.

The Post has reached out to Rogan for remark.

As for now, Rogan spoke to Jewish mathematician Eric Weinstein in his podcast launched Tuesday — however has nonetheless refused to apologise for his feedback.

In February 2022, Spotify eliminated 70 episodes of The Joe Rogan Experience that included “racially insensitive language,” which Spotify CEO Daniel Ek stated have been pulled on the host’s request.

Last 12 months, Courtney Holt, who was head of Spotify’s studios and video, and who recruited Rogan to the platform, left — severing a key hyperlink for Rogan on the firm, in accordance with Semafor.

Rogan’s frustration with public calls for to kerb what he can say on his podcast boiled over final 12 months, prompting him to threaten to give up the streaming big.

“I will quit. If it gets to a point that I can’t do it anymore, where I have to do it in some sort of weird way where I walk on eggshells and mind my p’s and q’s, f*** that!” Rogan stated throughout a March 2022 episode.

But as Joe Sr. claimed: “He’s a drama queen. He loves drama.”

This article initially appeared within the New York Post and was reproduced with permission

Source: www.news.com.au