Science Podcaster Calls Spotify’s Support of Joe Rogan a ‘Slap within the Face’

The government producer and host of Gimlet Media’s Science Vs podcast mentioned she would commit her fact-checking present solely to contradicting misinformation on different podcasts carried by father or mother firm Spotify.

The announcement by Wendy Zukerman builds on protests by Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, and others towards Spotify’s Joe Rogan Experience Podcast. They say Spotify is just not doing sufficient to stop the unfold of COVID-19 misinformation.

Zukerman posted a duplicate of an e mail she despatched to Spotify CEO Daniel Ek, wherein she mentioned she thought-about the platform’s assist of Rogan a “slap in the face,” after she spent months encouraging her listeners to maneuver to the service due to its assist for her fact-based science podcast.

Spotify acquired Gimlet Media in 2019.

Zukerman wrote that Rogan’s interview with Dr Robert Malone, an infectious illness specialist who has change into well-known amongst anti-vaccine Americans, took vaccine info “repeatedly out of context” and lacked scientific proof that contradicts his claims – a subject a forthcoming Science Vs episode will tackle.

She mentioned that Spotify’s platform guidelines don’t go far sufficient to deal with the issue.

“Until Spotify implements stronger methods to prevent the spread of misinformation on the platform, we will no longer be making new Science Vs episodes, except those intended to contradict misinformation being spread on Spotify,” Zukerman wrote in an e mail to Ek that she posted on Twitter.

Rogan’s interview with Malone prompted a protest by rock star Neil Young, who mentioned he didn’t need his music on a platform that promoted “false information about vaccines.”

He added, “They can have Rogan or Young. Not both.” Folk music star Joni Mitchell eliminated her music to assist Young.

Rogan apologised in an Instagram video put up on Sunday and pledged extra stability on his present. Spotify mentioned it will add a content material advisory to any episode with dialogue of COVID.

Reuters couldn’t instantly attain Gimlet or Spotify for remark. Zukerman’s put up appeared on her verified Twitter account.

Spotify acquired Gimlet as a part of an funding in its podcast enterprise, an growth of audio content material that was underscored with its subsequent deal in 2020 to deliver Rogan solely to the platform in a reported $100 million (roughly Rs. 750 crore) deal.