Greater than 70 episodes of Joe Rogan's podcast have reportedly been pulled from Spotify amid an ongoing controversy relating to COVID-19 misinformation and racial slurs utilized by the podcast host.

The episodes of The Joe Rogan Expertise have been quietly taken off the platform, in keeping with a brand new report from JREMissing.com, an internet software that tracks lacking content material.

The episodes had been every recorded years in the past and had been initially noticed to be lacking by the net tracker on Friday. Neither Spotify nor Rogan have commented on the matter, and it's not but clear if the episodes had been pulled as a direct consequence of current controversies.

Nevertheless, the timing of the lacking episodes line up with a number of criticisms in opposition to Rogan. The comic and actor has come below heavy fireplace this month over accusations that he has promoted COVID-19 vaccine misinformation and made racist remarks on his present.

A letter from over 200 medical consultants, professors, and scientists this month accused Rogan's podcast of selling "devastating proportions" of false info after he hosted controversial virologist Dr. Robert Malone, who has been recognized within the medical group to unfold incorrect and dangerous details about coronavirus vaccines. In response, a number of legendary musicians together with Neil Younger and Joni Mitchell pulled their music from the platform in protest.

Joe Rogan Spotify Controversy
Spotify has reportedly eliminated dozens of Joe Rogan's podcast episodes amid ongoing controversies. On this picture illustration, "The Joe Rogan Expertise" podcast is seen on Spotify's cellular app. Cindy Ord/Getty Photographs/Getty Photographs

On Saturday, Rogan posted a message on social media during which he apologized after resurfaced clips confirmed him utilizing a racial slur in previous episodes. Within the clips, the podcast host might be heard utilizing a derogatory slur towards African People and evaluating a Black neighborhood to the Planet of the Apes.

Rogan mentioned the clips had been taken "out of context" and addressed the problem as "probably the most regretful and shameful factor that I've ever needed to discuss publicly."

"There's nothing I can do to take that again. I want I may. Clearly, that is not potential," Rogan added in his apology video. "I definitely wasn't attempting to be racist, and I definitely would by no means need to offend somebody for leisure with one thing as silly as racism." Rogan added that compilation was drawn from "12 years of conversations" on his present, and that it regarded "horrible."

On Friday musician India Arie, who's Black, posted the video on Instagram and mentioned that Rogan "should not even be uttering the phrase. Do not say it, below any context." Arie joined different musicians in eradicating her music from Spotify.

Spotify, going through stress from followers and musicians to deal with Rogan's controversies, responded by updating its content material insurance policies and including an "advisory" to any podcast that discusses details about COVID-19.

The platform has pushed again in opposition to arguments that it has editorial management over Rogan's present and has made no indication that it will drop its unique contract with the podcast, main critics to assert that it's not "doing sufficient" to deal with issues.

Rogan first started his podcast in 2009 on YouTube earlier than signing an unique cope with Spotify for a reported $100 million in 2020. The Joe Rogan Expertise is at present the most well-liked podcast on the platform.

Newsweek contacted Spotify for an extra remark, however didn't hear again in time for publication.