Joe Rogan calls controversy over Spotify podcast ‘political hit job’

Joe Rogan has claimed the ongoing row surrounding his Spotify podcast is a “political hit job”.

Rogan’s comments came in his latest episode of the Joe Rogan Experience. The podcast has been slammed for spreading Covid misinformation and for Rogan’s use of racist language.

Spotify last week pulled more than 70 episodes of the podcast after singer India Arie said she would boycott Spotify over Rogan’s use of the N-word.

Announcing the decision, Arie shared a montage of Rogan using the racist slur more than 20 times.

Addressing the controversy on Tuesday, Rogan said: “That video had always been out there. It’s like, this is a political hit job.

“And so they’re taking all this stuff I’ve ever said that’s wrong and smushing it all together.”

However, he added: “It’s good because it makes me address some shit that I really wish wasn’t out there.”

He told his guest, stand-up comedian Akaash Singh, “You just have to stay offline… Life goes on, as normal”.

Singh replied: “Real life is people who know you, and you’re a great guy”.

The controversial podcaster apologised for his repeated use of the racial slur in a video on February 5, calling it “the most regretful and shameful thing I’ve ever had to talk about publicly”.

He has also previously sought to respond to critics over spreading Covid disinformation, vowing that he would seek a better balance of on the topic in future.

After Rogan’s apology for racist language, Spotify chief executive Daniel Ek on Sunday sent a memo to employees saying that he was “deeply sorry” for the controversy.

However, he wrote: “I do not believe that silencing Joe is the answer… cancelling voices is a slippery slope.”

Mr Ek also pledged an investment of $100m for content from “historically marginalised groups”.

Spotify’s deal with Rogan is reportedly worth around the same sum.