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Joe Rogan & Spotify Defend Hosting Alex Jones

Joe Rogan and Spotify have responded to the backlash from the latest episode of The Joe Rogan Experience featuring Alex Jones. Now, this wouldn’t be the first time Rogan has hosted Jones on his show but it is the first time Jones’ episode on the JRE has been uploaded to Spotify. Jones was previously banned on the platform in 2018 after violating their rules and regulations but apparently, Spotify’s willingness to bend the rules depends on the host. Well, at least that was the case.


Travis County Sheriff’s Office/Handout via Getty Images

Since the episode with Jones aired, people have been calling for a further boycott of both Rogan and Spotify. Neither has budged with both Rogan and the streaming giant issuing statements, defending the decision to host the far-right conspiracy theorist. Rogan shared a video of Bill Gates admitting that there have been side-effects to the vaccine during testing, with the caption reading:

“I knew people were going to criticize the content of the podcast without even listening and I was right. That’s why I fact checked every single crazy thing he said, and all of them were verified. People have said he spread “anti-covid vaccine conspiracy theories” because he said that 80% of the people who were given one of the vaccines got sick. Here’s the video of Bill Gates admitting it himself.

Now, I’m NOT anti vaccine, and if a safe and effective covid vaccine is created I’ll take it and encourage others to take it, but I wanted to put this video up to validate what he said.

He said a lot of crazy, but accurate things, and that’s what I’ve been saying about him for years. He’s most certainly fucked up in the past, but this episode and the subjects he exposed highlight why I chose to have him on.”

Ahead of the public statement, Spotify issued an email to managers regarding the episode, though they didn’t mention Alex Jones by name. The e-mail included instructions to employees on how to answer any questions regarding the content on the platform, the guests allowed, and generally, what is and isn’t acceptable.

“If a team member has concerns about any piece of content on our platform, you should encourage them to report it to Trust & Safety because they are the experts on our team charged with reviewing content,” an e-mail from Horacio Gutierrez, chief legal officer at Spotify, wrote to employees. “However, it’s important that they aren’t simply flagging a piece of content just because of something they’ve read online. It’s all too common that things are taken out of context.”

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Despite previously barring Jones from their platform, it appears that they have since changed that policy. Gutierrez added that it’s important for Spotify to host “diverse voices and points of view on our platform.”

“We are not going to ban specific individuals from being guests on other people’s shows, as the episode/show complies with our content policies,” Gutierrez added.

Check out Joe Rogan’s full response below. 

View this post on Instagram

I knew people were going to criticize the content of the podcast without even listening and I was right. That’s why I fact checked every single crazy thing he said, and all of them were verified. People have said he spread “anti-covid vaccine conspiracy theories” because he said that 80% of the people who were given one of the vaccines got sick. Here’s the video of Bill Gates admitting it himself. Now, I’m NOT anti vaccine, and if a safe and effective covid vaccine is created I’ll take it and encourage others to take it, but I wanted to put this video up to validate what he said. He said a lot of crazy, but accurate things, and that’s what I’ve been saying about him for years. He’s most certainly fucked up in the past, but this episode and the subjects he exposed highlight why I chose to have him on.

A post shared by Joe Rogan (@joerogan) on Oct 28, 2020 at 3:43pm PDT

[Via]

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Entertainment

Rubi Rose Comes Clean About Druski Romance and Why She Lied

Honk Magazine

After months of rumors and mixed messages, Rubi Rose has finally cleared up the confusion about her relationship with comedian Druski. During a live stream with Adin Ross, Rubi admitted that her romance with Druski was real, despite her earlier claims that it was just a publicity stunt. Her reason for saying that? She was heartbroken. In her candid moment on the stream, Rubi said, “Okay, something embarrassing that I’ve never told anybody. Me and Dru were really in a relationship, and I said it was PR because he pissed me the f**k off and hurt my feelings.” This surprising admission showed that her initial denial was more about protecting her heart than trying to generate buzz.

For fans who had been following their relationship, this news ends the back-and-forth. Rubi and Druski started sparking dating rumors in April 2024, their fun chemistry getting everyone talking. But by July, they had officially broken up, with Rubi claiming their relationship was just for the media’s attention. Druski, however, had always insisted that their connection was real, a point Rubi now agrees with. Looking back, Rubi reflected on her previous actions, admitting, “That was really lame of me and embarrassing. I shouldn’t have said that. But it was, like, I had to stand on it.” This moment of honesty gives fans a glimpse into celebrities’ pressures regarding love and public perception.

Check out this article: Lil Kim Honors Biggie’s Mother, Voletta Wallace, as “Second Mom” in Heartfelt Tribute

Even though they’ve parted ways, Rubi reassured fans that there’s no hard feelings between her and Druski. “It’s in the past now. And we’re friends and we’re cool still,” she shared, mentioning that they’ve known each other since high school. While the ups and downs of their relationship made for interesting headlines, Rubi’s honesty provides a refreshing look at the challenges of being in the spotlight. Whether it was love or just a lesson learned, it’s clear that Rubi Rose is embracing her reality and moving forward, regardless of what others say.

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Artist Spotlight

Lil Scrappy Fires Back at Bambi’s “Eleven” Diss with Laughter and Shade

Honk Magazine

If anyone thought that Lil Scrappy and Bambi were going to resolve their issues quietly after their messy breakup, they were in for a surprise. The former couple has been going back and forth publicly for months, and Bambi has taken it to the next level with her new diss track called “Eleven.” In the song, she doesn’t hold back, taking jabs at Scrappy’s money problems, his children from different relationships, and even throwing shade at her rivals from the show Love & Hip Hop. However, Scrappy seems unfazed by it all, laughing off her claims.

Scrappy took to social media to respond, smirking as he called out Bambi for allegedly lying about her age and exaggerating her statements in “Eleven.” He pointed out that if he was as broke as she claims, he wouldn’t be able to keep up with his child support payments. It’s a classic comeback of “If I’m struggling, how am I still paying you?” With that, Scrappy managed to throw some shade right back at her. Their conflict isn’t only about the song; it also affects their personal lives and even Scrappy’s other relationships.

Recently, his ex-girlfriend, Erica Dixon, called out his mother, Momma Dee, for showing up to a baby shower without a paternity test for the baby involved. That baby, born to hairstylist Shakira Hardy, adds another layer to the already complicated situation in Scrappy’s life. Through all this chaos, Scrappy appears calm, or at least that’s how he’s presenting himself to the public. His response to “Eleven” was less about what Bambi said and more about poking fun at her claims. Whether he’s just trying to cope with the situation or genuinely moving on, this drama isn’t coming to an end anytime soon.

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