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Joe Rogan Responds To Spotify Employees Over Censorship Rumors
TheJoe Rogan Experience, hosted by UFC commentator and stand-up comedian, Joe Rogan, is one of Spotify’s latest headline-grabbing acquisitions. Although, in this case, public interest goes beyond the sheer business move.
After Spotify announced its decision to obtain the exclusive licensing rights to the podcast, its employees expressed a desire for “direct editorial oversight” that would enable the company to patently false or problematic messaging would not be shared without context from reliable sources accompanying it.
This comes after Rogan has held such controversial guests on his show, such as far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, and author of IRREVERSIBLE DAMAGE: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters, Abigail Shrier.
Despite the criticisms against him, Rogan says Spotify has said nothing directly to him on the matter. While talking to Tim Dillon in his latest episode Rogan reveals,
“Spotify has said nothing. Listen to me. Nothing. They haven’t said anything to my manager. They haven’t said anything to me. They’ve said nothing.”
He continued, defending his position on the trans community, “Now, is there someone at Spotify that’s complaining about the Abigail Shrier episode? I’m sure, I’m sure there’s someone that’s complaining about it. Is it a transphobic episode? It’s not. They’re wrong. They’re not. It’s nothing to do with that. It has to do with the fact that human beings are actually malleable. We all know that. That’s why cults exist.”
Rogan’s guest (as well as friend and political satirist), Tim Dillon, sided with the host in insinuating that the argument against him was made in bad faith.
Rogan emphasized, “But that, that is what people do when they’re trying to discredit someone and it’s, what they’re doing is they’re— they’re, they’re not being honest. It’s not an honest take. It’s not a real honest take on who a human being is. It’s a denial of nuance. It’s a denial of all the complexities that make a human being.”
He continued elsewhere to ask Spotify to turn the mirror back on themselves, citing the fact that Spotify itself is a platform hosting a plethora of music, in some of which the lyrics may be questionable.
“Look, people are so malleable, they’re so easily influenced, and for us to deny that doesn’t do anybody any good, doesn’t do anybody any service. So this is the main issue they had with that, you know. This is the, apparently, this is the main problem they had with this one particular episode [with Abigail Shrier] and I’m sure they’ve had issues with other episodes as well, but like I’ve said before: I’m talking off the top of my head, and a lot of times, I’m saying shit I don’t even mean, because I’m saying it because this is a fucking podcast. And if you have a problem with people saying terrible shit and you work for Spotify, maybe you should listen to some of the lyrics. Ok? Because some of the lyrics in some of the fuckin music you guys play over and over and over again makes my shit pale in comparison. Pale. If you’re listening to some rap music right now— I’m not anti-rap, I love rap music. I’m– I’m fucking saying, go back and listen to NWA. Go back and listen to some of the early shit. Like go back and listen to Ice-T, “Cop Killer” From the Body Count days. Whew.”
Of course, Rogan is also an a fan of hip-hop, as he was sure to follow up that statement with the caveat of such, and concluded, “[Rap] is a, a type of art, and talking shit is also a type of art. You might not like that type of art because sometimes it seems too much like a real statement, and sometimes it is a real statement and sometimes it’s just talking shit.”
Check out the full episode below.
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Olivier Martinez Wants Halle Berry to Cover $240K in Legal Fees Amid Custody Dispute.
French actor Olivier Martinez is asking a Los Angeles judge to make his ex-wife, Halle Berry, pay $240,000 in legal fees as their custody battle continues. Martinez allegedly says he can no longer afford the mounting litigation costs, especially after years without landing an acting role.
The request comes less than a week after the former couple received a mixed ruling on custody of their 13-year-old son, Maceo. The latest legal dispute between them is now about Martinez’s finances, and the actor is asking Berry for help paying bills he says are hard to manage.
Court documents have been obtained, and the $240,000 request is made up of two different amounts. Martinez is seeking $176,522.58 for outstanding legal fees and an additional $63,477.42 for anticipated costs. The figures indicate he is asking the court to consider both the costs he has already incurred and the legal work he anticipates will be necessary as the case progresses.
The documents also detail Martinez’s reported financial situation. He says he makes around $776.34 a month in acting residuals, and his monthly expenses are estimated at $17,555.99. He also reported approximately $43,206 in different financial accounts. Martinez is using these figures to argue that he can no longer fund the custody litigation on his own.
One piece of financial information in the filing is his disclosed residual income, but this does not represent all income sources available to him. The documents as described are a snapshot of the financial information Martinez is relying on to make his request, not a full accounting of all possible earnings.
The request adds another financial issue to an ongoing custody dispute involving their son, Berry said. The ex-spouses recently received a mixed ruling, and Martinez’s latest filing indicates that legal fees remain a major concern as they work through issues involving Maceo.
That’s $240,000, which is a lot of money, but the request itself is not a court order. Martinez is asking a judge to make Berry pay for the costs, but the information provided does not indicate that the court has approved the request or decided how the fees should be split.
His filing also points to the financial strain that can come with drawn-out family court fights, especially when one party claims their resources are no longer adequate to cover the expenses. Martinez argues that, based on the income and expenses reported, he can’t keep paying the bills without help.
It is not known whether Berry will be asked to contribute. Martinez is now seeking a financial arrangement that will allow him to continue the legal process, and the court is due to consider his request as part of the ongoing legal dispute between the former couple.
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Cardi B Rips NYC Bullying After Death of Bronx Teen Javits Frimpong
Cardi B is speaking out on bullying in New York City after 15-year-old Bronx student Javits Frimpong was shot and killed. The rapper spoke out against the teen’s death and slammed what she called a bullying culture in the city on a livestream caught by “Hollywood Unlocked.”
Based on the information provided, Frimpong, a 15-year-old student from the Bronx, was shot and killed this week. Cardi B spoke about the case in a social media livestream, using the moment to highlight her concern about the environment young people face. She focused on bullying and what she thinks it does to life in New York City.
The rapper said the situation makes her reluctant to raise her children in the vicinity of a New York public school or in what she called the city’s ‘hoods’. She spoke out of concern about safety and the social pressures young people may feel. The information provided does not give any more details about the circumstances of Frimpong’s death or the investigation into the shooting.
Cardi B’s response also fits into her broader pattern of speaking freely on social media about personal matters and events around her. She is also talking about a tragedy involving a young student and what she sees as a larger issue facing the city. She spoke about bullying, which she said was a concern in the environment.
The account also said that A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie addressed Frimpong’s case. Details of his remarks are not included in the information, but his response adds another Bronx-connected artist to those reacting to the death of the teenager.
The incident has caught the attention of people in the music community, and Cardi B’s comments have sparked discussion about bullying and concerns for young people’s safety. She spoke emotionally and directly, in response to the death of a teen from her home borough.
The information released does not link bullying to the circumstances of the shooting, nor does it include any information on suspects, charges, or official findings. These are things outside the scope of the account given. Frimpong’s death has sparked public reaction, including Cardi B’s criticism of what she sees as a damaging culture for young people in New York.
The tragedy also prompted Cardi B to express concern about the environments children grow up in. Her comments about public schools and city neighborhoods revealed her fears as a parent. The public reaction to Frimpong’s death continues to attract attention, and her comments have brought wider discussion about bullying into the public response.
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