Spotify CEO Daniel Ek has apologised to staff after clips of Joe Rogan using the N-word have gone viral. 

A compilation that was shared by Grammy Award singer India Arie has gathered traction, showing Rogan using the N-word a number of times over different The Joe Rogan Experience podcast episodes. Rogan posted a video apologising for the slurs and now, Spotify has spoken over the racially insensitive comments.

“Spotify Team,” Ek began the statement. “There are no words I can say to adequately convey how deeply sorry I am for the way ‘The Joe Rogan Experience’ controversy continues to impact each of you.”

The statement continued: “Not only are some of Joe Rogan’s comments incredibly hurtful – I want to make clear that they do not represent the values of this company.”

“I know this situation leaves many of you feeling drained, frustrated and unheard.

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“I think it’s important that that you’re aware that we’ve had conversations with Joe and his team about some of the content in his show, including his history of using some racially insensitive language.

“Following these discussions and his own reflections, he chose to remove a number of episodes from Spotify. He also issued his own apology over the weekend,” it concludes.

Rogan is the most listened to podcast on Spotify, and the comedian and podcaster signed a $100 million deal in May 2021 with the streaming platform that allowed them exclusive rights to his podcasts.

Recently, a number of artists have pulled their music off Spotify after Rogan published a podcast featuring misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine. Neil Young started the movement, with Joni Mitchell, Nils Lofgren and India Arie all pulling their music too. The Washington Post has reported that Kendrick Lamar has threatened to remove his music from the streaming giant over the same issue.

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