Dwayne Johnson has stepped back from his support of Joe Rogan after getting wind of the videos showing Rogan using the N-word surface. The comedian, UFC commentator, and podcast host of the popular The Joe Rogan Experience was under for spreading misinformation about COVID-19.
Dwayne Johnson Backs Up from Support of Joe Rogan After History of Using the N-word Surfaces
As a result, several artists and hosts such as Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, India Arie, Roxane Gay, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, and Crosby, Stills, and Nash have removed their music from Spotify. A recent report says that roughly 19-percent of Spotify users have either canceled their subscription or plan to cancel it.
The Rock initially showed support after several artists and hosts have called for their material to be pulled. He also said that he looked forward to appearing on the popular podcast to chop it up with the host.
Spotify opted to stick by Rogan as others bounced. Singer India Arie would share clips of the host using the N-word multiple times included is referring to Black neighbors as Planet of the Apes. It would finally make its way to Johnson after author Don Winslow brought it to his attention:
Dear @TheRock,
You’re a hero to many people and using your platform to defend Joe Rogan, a guy that used and laughed about using the N word dozens of times, is a terrible use of your power. Have you actually listened to this man’s many racist statements about Black people?
Dwayne Johnson would reply and addressed his support of Rogan with the new information he’d gained:
Dear @donwinslow
Thank you so much for this I hear you as well as everyone here 100% I was not aware of his N word use prior to my comments, but now I’ve become educated to his complete narrative. Learning moment for me. Mahalo, brother and have a great & productive weekend. DJ
On Saturday, Joe Rogan got on Instagram and addressed his use of the N-word and stated that it was the “most regretful and shameful” thing he had to address. He also said the clips are out of context from over a decade on content but his views on the usage of the word have changed and that it looks “f***ing horrible” to him.
“It looks fucking horrible. Even to me. 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.”
In response to the backlash, Spotify has removed a number of episodes, pointed out that censoring Rogan isn’t the right move, and are pledging to invest $100 million to podcasts from “historically marginalized groups”. The amount is the same as the amount the platform paid for the exclusive streaming rights to The Joe Rogan Experience in 2019.
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