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- Popular podcaster Joe Rogan hosted far-right personality Alex Jones on his Spotify podcast on Tuesday.
- Jones was previously booted off Spotify’s platform in 2018 for violating its “prohibited content” policies.
- Jones has repeatedly claimed that the Sandy Hook school massacre was a hoax. After Tuesday’s episode went live, Spotify was immediately criticized for allowing Jones back onto the platform.
- Last month, Spotify executives faced complaints from staffers about Joe Rogan’s podcast. Employees said specific episodes of “The Joe Rogan Experience” had broken company rules on transphobia.
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In September, Spotify staff warned that podcast star Joe Rogan might be breaking the company’s hate-speech policies. On Tuesday, the podcaster hosted far-right personality Alex Jones — who was booted off Spotify two years ago for breaking those same policies.
Rogan put up episode #1555 of “The Joe Rogan Experience” on Tuesday, featuring guests Jones and stand-up comedian Tim Dillon.
Jones’ own podcast was removed from Spotify in 2018 for “repeated violations of Spotify’s prohibited content policies.”
When the episode went live, Spotify was immediately criticized for allowing Jones back onto the platform.
“Congrats on paying 100 million dollars for the privilege of platforming a man who terrorized Sandy Hook parents,
@Spotify,” tweeted online civil rights group Sleeping Giants, referring to Jones’ repeated claims that the Sandy Hook school massacre was a hoax.
—Sleeping Giants (@slpng_giants) October 28, 2020
Families of children killed at Sandy Hook have brought legal cases against Jones for promoting the conspiracy, claiming they were harassed and sent death threats by Jones' followers.
"Rogan continuing to platform these far-right sickos is incredibly gross and dangerous," tweeted activist Nathan Bernard.
—Nathan Bernard (@nathanTbernard) October 27, 2020
Spotify acquired the hugely popular "Joe Rogan Experience" in May for a reported $100 million, in what was seen as a major coup for the streaming company.
Rogan hosted Jones on his podcast before the acquisition, but Spotify doesn't feature these episodes.
In September, Vice reported Spotify executives were having to field questions from staff who believed episodes of the podcast broke the company's rules on transphobia.
Spotify did not immediately reply when contacted for comment by Business Insider about Rogan's most recent episode, which has not been removed at time of writing.