Joe Rogan, host of the “Joe Rogan Experience” podcast, is under fire after spouting COVID-19 misinformation again and using the N-word on his podcast. This follows other comments from Rogan on COVID-19 vaccines and horse deworming drug ivermectin, which were scrutinized.

Rogan had already been in the hot seat following comments on his podcast about COVID-19 vaccines and young adults. He stated that young and healthy adults should not receive the vaccine if they are young and healthy. Those comments, coupled with his support and use of untested and unproven horse deworming drug, ivermectin, as a substitute for a COVID-19 vaccine brought the ire of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Dr. Anthony Fauci. Both the FDA and Fauci condemned his statements on ivermectin and the COVID-19 vaccines.

In the wake of the comments, Spotify, the world’s largest streaming service that features Rogan’s podcast, remained mostly silent. However, on Jan. 24, singer Neil Young wrote an open letter to Spotify. He called on the streaming service to remove “Joe Rogan Experience” or remove his own music. Spotify chose the latter. They began removing his music and in the process of doing so, Young fired another shot at Spotify. Young acknowledged the financial cost of his decision and called Spotify’s choice to keep Rogan’s podcast as spreading “life threatening misinformation.” 

“We should have clear lines around content and take action when they are crossed, but canceling voices is a slippery slope,” Spotify CEO, Daniel Ek, said. “Looking at the issue more broadly, it’s critical thinking and open debate that powers real and necessary progress.”