Joe Rogan has threatened to axe his $200 million Spotify deal if he has to watch what he says.
Months after musicians called for a boycott of the streaming service over his racial slurs and comments on Covid-19, it seems like the controversial podcaster is getting concerned about cancel culture.
On a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, Rogan's guest, MMA fighter Josh Barnett, revealed he would be judged for 'every little thing' that he said during the podcast.
Rogan echoed the 44-year-old fighter's fears, revealing he will quit if push comes to shove.
"If I become something different because it grew bigger, 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 said.
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Rogan has faced public scrutiny after a compilation clip surfaced online revealing the podcaster had used the N-word 24 times. He has since apologised for ever using the racial slur.
Prior to that, the controversial podcaster found himself in hot water over allegations he was spreading misinformation regarding the Covid-19 pandemic.
MMA fighter Josh Barnett advised Rogan he needed to remain himself in spite of the media attention now focused on his work.
The fighter added that Rogan isn't criticised for the content of his podcast, but rather because biased people have already 'framed up' who he is.
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"[Ninety-nine] per cent of everyone's complaint on you, any criticism, is essentially - they're levying an insincerity - they're putting insincerity on you. That's really what it is," Barnett said.
"But the thing is when you do something like that, because it's a good thing, because it intrigues you and you like it, it resonates with people because they're so starving for that."
Rogan agreed with that sentiment, adding: "This requires sincerity, without it, this show doesn't have any success."
In February, Rogan was offered $100 million (£74 million) to take his podcast off Spotify following the allegations of racism and using his platform to spread Covid-19 misinformation.
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Spotify has since removed 113 episodes of The Joe Rogan Experience.
Most episodes removed involved far-right commentators.
Topics: Joe Rogan, Spotify, Racism, Coronavirus
Rachel Lang