Spotify CEO condemns Rogan's use of racial slurs but won't silence him
CTV
Joe Rogan's mouth has put Spotify in a tough spot, but the streaming giant is apparently not ready to part ways with the popular podcast host despite intense criticism over his anti-coronavirus vaccine comments and racial slurs.
Spotify CEO Daniel Ek said in a message to employees released Sunday that the company would not part ways with Rogan.
"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 note. "And I want to make one point very clear -- I do not believe that silencing Joe is the answer."
The letter is the clearest indication yet of where Spotify stands on Rogan's fate with the company. It reportedly paid US$100 million to exclusively host the podcast, so dropping Rogan threatens the bottom line but is also a key part of the company's strategy to be a one-stop shop for audio.
"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," Ek wrote. He said he was "deeply sorry" for the impact the controversy was having on Spotify's workforce.
