Joe Rogan Apologizes For N-Word Use; Spotify Pulls Episodes As Other Podcasters Leave App.

• Feb 7, 2022 

Story by Inside Radio

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The controversy surrounding Joe Rogan’s podcast on Spotify entered a second week as the popular podcaster issued an apology Saturday for his repeated use of the n-word on his show, The Joe Rogan Experience. His apology came as a video was circulated on social media showing Rogan’s use of the racial slur on several episodes, some dating back years.

In an Instagram video, Rogan said the video showed his statements “taken out of context” and he called his use of the slur “the most regretful and shameful thing” that he has had to publicly talk about.

In the six-minute video, Rogan explained one use was from a 2011 podcast when he discussed seeing the movie “Planted of the Apes” in a Black neighborhood. “I was trying to make the story entertaining, and I said we got out and it was like we were in Africa. It’s like we were in ‘Planet of the Apes.'," said Rogan. “I know that to most people, there is no context where a white person is ever allowed to say that word, never mind publicly on a podcast, and I agree with that now. I haven’t said it in years. Instead of saying ‘the N-word,’ I would just say the word. I thought as long as it was in context, people would understand what I was doing.”

In his apology Rogan said it was an “idiotic” thing to say that “looks terrible even in context.” He also said that he had already taken the podcast episode down, but said someone apparently saved a video clip of the episode.

"It’s not my word to use. I am well aware of that now, but for years I used it in that manner,” Rogan said. “I never used it to be racist because I’m not racist.”

Singer India.Aire brought Rogan’s use of racially-charged language to light last week when she posted a statement on her Instagram account saying that she was taking her music off of Spotify in protest. She then posted a montage of Rogan clips, saying it was his “language around race” that was the problem.

As the clips of his previous statements rocked across the internet during the weekend, Spotify pulled down more than 100 episodes of Rogan’s podcast according to a website that tracks the podcast. JREMissing says 113 episodes were yanked, including episodes featuring far-right guests and conspiracy theorists, such as podcast appearances by Proud Boys founder Gavin McInnes, conservative journalist and provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos, and media personality Alex Jones. It is unclear whether any of the episodes taken down used the n-word.

Podcasters Pull Shows From Spotify

Even before the racial element emerged, the fallout from Rogan’s controversial statements on COVID vaccines were already costing Spotify not only music, but also other podcasts. Vox Media’s The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway and the Luminary-iHeartRadio produced The Roxanne Gay Agenda have both pulled their shows off Spotify in protest over what they believe is the company’s lackluster response to anti-vaccine misinformation on The Joe Rogan Experience and other podcasts.

“This is going to hurt us more than it is going to hurt them,” said Galloway, who said 10% to 12% of The Prof G Pod downloads come on Spotify. “If you’re constantly railing as I do against anti-vaccine misinformation, you shouldn’t cash the check of someone who is creating false balance round vaccine misinformation,” he said on the Vox podcast Pivot, which he co-hosts with Kara Swisher. Unlike The Prof G Pod, which Galloway controls, Pivot will remain on Spotify since Swisher is not on board with pulling the show, she explained on its latest episode.

Gay’s decision comes just weeks after she launched The Roxanne Gay Agenda with Luminary and iHeartRadio. “It won't move any sort of needle, but I removed my podcast from Spotify. That's all there really is to say about that. Onward,” she wrote in a Twitter post.

Earlier, the creators of the Science Vs. podcast said their show would go on semi-hiatus on Spotify other than to produce new shows geared toward addressing vaccine misinformation on the platform. “We think Spotify has a responsibility to do more,” they wrote in a Twitter post.

But Brené Brown, the host of the Unlocking Us and Dare to Lead podcasts, is going in the other direction. After delaying release of her shows last week, Brown said now that Spotify has published its misinformation policy, it appears to address the majority of her concerns. In a blog post she said she expected to return to Spotify this week.

Spotify CEO Stands With Rogan

Spotify has stood by Rogan, despite his controversies. It has a reported $100 million distribution deal that gives the streamer exclusive rights to his podcast. During a townhall meeting with Spotify employees last week, CEO Daniel Ek defended the company’s actions according to a recording obtained by The Verge.

“I understand the premise that because we have an exclusive deal with him, it’s really easy to conclude we endorse every word he says and believe the opinions expressed by his guests. That’s absolutely not the case,” said Ek. He also told staff that the sort of exclusive arrangements that it has with Rogan are necessary to secure “leverage” in a crowded podcast marketplace.

When Spotify reported its quarterly earnings to Wall Street last week, Ek said it is “too early to know” what impact the Rogan controversy will have in terms of subscriber cancellations or decreased listening.