‘There is a difference between being open to varying viewpoints and knowingly spreading false information’
More musicians have decided to pull their music from Spotify over concerns that Joe Rogan is being allowed to spread covid misinformation on the platform.
The move against the streaming service was kicked off by Neil Young, who asked that his music be pulled from the platform due to its affiliation with Rogan and his podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience.
Young accused the podcaster, comedian and fight commentator of spreading “false information” regarding the vaccine in particular.
Joni Mitchell then followed Young, as did Crazy Horse and E Street band guitarist Nils Lofgren.
Now, Young’s former bandmate Graham Nash and singer Indie Arie have done the same.
Nash wrote on Instagram: “Having heard the Covid disinformation spread by Joe Rogan on Spotify, I completely agree with and support my friend, Neil Young.”
He continued: “There is a difference between being open to varying viewpoints on a matter and knowingly spreading false information, which some 270 medical professionals have derided not only false but dangerous.
“Likewise there is a difference between misinformation, in which one is unaware that what is being said is false, versus disinformation which is knowingly false and intended to mislead and sway public opinion. In this case, in a way that could cost people their lives.”
In her own statement released on Tuesday, “Brown Skin” singer Indie Arie said that Young had “opened a door that I MUST walk through. She added that she also found Rogan “problematic” due to his “language around race.”
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It’s not just musicians calling on the streaming service to act either. In an interview with TMZ, model and Basic Instinct actor Sharon Stone said that Rogan was “risking people’s lives with his idiocy.”
She said: “Covid and infectious diseases are science, and they are fact-based situations. So the pretence that these are opinions is dangerous, and his behaviour is dangerous.”
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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have also joined calls for Spotify to address the issue of covid misinformation on the platform.
Meanwhile, hundreds of doctors and medical professionals have already joined together to call for Spotify to take action over Rogan’s unfounded and baseless claims surrounding the virus and its vaccine.
Related links:
- Taylor Swift fans call on star to pull music from Spotify over Joe Rogan
- Joe Rogan defends podcast and apologises to Spotify amid covid misinformation backlash
- Harry and Meghan call out Spotify over Joe Rogan Covid misinformation row
