Joe Rogan, a very popular US podcast host, supported his comment that young and healthy people could abandon the coronavirus vaccine.
“I’m not an Antibacs person,” Logan said. “I believe they are safe and encourage many people to take them.”
However, Logan did not retreat his proposal that young and healthy people “do not need” vaccines. It evoked a backlash from White House officials.
Experts say that everyone over the age of 16 should be vaccinated to prevent the spread of the virus.
Joe Rogan Experience was Spotify’s most popular podcast in 2020, but the streaming giant didn’t share the number of times his episode was downloaded. Rogan has more than 7 million followers on Twitter and more than 12.5 million followers on Instagram.
His podcast was acquired by Spotify last year for over $ 100 million (£ 77 million).
Asked about Rogan’s comments, Dr. Anthony Fauci, a top US infectious disease expert, gave guidance from experts that unvaccinated asymptomatic people could still infect Covid-19. Was repeated.
“Even if there are no symptoms, it is spreading,” Dr. Forch said.
Rogan commented on the April 23 episode of the podcast, first reported by Media Matters this week.
In that episode, Logan told the audience that he wouldn’t propose a vaccine to a healthy 21-year-old. “If you’re a healthy person, always exercising, young, and eating a lot … I don’t think you need to worry about this.”
In response to criticisms in Thursday’s podcast, Logan said the argument that young people need vaccines “for others” makes sense.
“But that’s another argument,” he added.
And Logan emphasized that he should not be a source of scientific advice. “I’m not a doctor,” he said. “Even for me, I’m not a respected source of information.”
The media mogul, who turned into a television host, is regularly controversial about his dull, sometimes inflamed style of broadcasting. He has been accused of making sexist, racist, and transphobic comments on podcasts. Logan denied these accusations and said his comments were out of context.
Risk v freedom of speech
Joe Rogan is a big attraction for Spotify. In fact, his show was mentioned in Spotify’s quarterly earnings announcement. Joe Rogan’s podcast “exceeded expectations,” the company said.
Spotify wants to be the place to go for podcasts, and Joe Rogan Experience is the main plan for that strategy. You may come for Joe Rogan, but stay to hear other podcasts. Spotify says the number of people listening to podcasts has “significantly increased” since the pandemic broke out.
But dressing in a controversial figure like Logan can be dangerous-and this story illustrates that danger.
Rogan said he had editorial control when he signed the deal with Spotify. Spotify has publicly supported podcasters.
But of course, Spotify has the power to pull podcasts.
As Big Tech says, it’s trying to balance two things: risk to the public and freedom of speech.
However, there is always a third element. money.
When the face of your podcast says that US politicians, white houses, and medical professionals are ridiculing it as dangerous, it doesn’t seem to be good for the Spotify brand.
For now, Spotify seems ready to help podcasters, and Logan hopes his withdrawal will draw a line under the hood.
Logan isn’t the only US public figure accused of opposition to the vaccine.
Current US Vice President Kamala Harris said during last year’s campaign that he did not trust the vaccine approved by the Trump administration. US Vice President Mike Pence at the time accused her of “living and politics.”
Two coronavirus shots by Pfizer and Moderna were subsequently approved under Mr. Trump. Ms. Harris received the model najab after the election and said it was safe.
Last year, both Rogan and Spotify faced criticism of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones appearing on his show.
The streaming giant has so far stood by the star host, promoting Rogan’s podcast in his first-quarter earnings report this week. Spotify didn’t immediately return a BBC request for comment.
“We have 8 million creators and hundreds of millions of content,” Spotify CEO Daniel Ek told Bloomberg News. “I have a content policy and I’ll remove the part that violates it.”
Health authorities in the United States and around the world have discovered that the Covid-19 vaccine is safe and effective in preventing infections, and safety checks are ongoing around the world.
Experts warn that false information encourages vaccine hesitation.
In the United States, nearly 100 million people are fully vaccinated. This week, President Joe Biden urged all Americans to get their jabs, calling it a “patriotic duty.”