Neil Young and Joe Rogan.Photo: getty (2)
Neil Youngis using his music to take a stand against COVID misinformation.
The Grammy Award winner, 76, reportedly demanded his management team and record label give Spotify an ultimatum between his music andJoe Rogan’s podcast, posting an open letter to hiswebsiteMonday that appears to have since been deleted.
“I want you to let Spotify know immediately TODAY that I want all my music off their platform. They can have [Joe] Rogan or Young. Not both,” Young added, according to the outlets.
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Reps for Spotify and Rogan did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
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Young referenced the misinformation Rogan, 54, has shared on hisJoe Rogan Experiencepodcast. A group of 270 scientists, professors and medical professionals previously shared anopen letterto Spotify on New Year’s Eve, requesting the audio streamer implement a misinformation policy.
The Joe Rogan Experience/Youtube
The letter cited Rogandiscouraging vaccinations in young people and children, falsely claiming that mRNA vaccines are “gene therapy,” and promoting off-label use of ivermectin to treat COVID, which the FDA has previouslywarned against.
“With an estimated 11 million listeners per episode, JRE is the world’s largest podcast and has tremendous influence,” the letter stated. “Though Spotify has a responsibility to mitigate the spread of misinformation on its platform, the company presently has no misinformation policy.
“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Joe Rogan has repeatedly spread misleading and false claims on his podcast, provoking distrust in science and medicine,” they added.
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Last year, Roganclaimedthat he is not an anti-vaxxer after making controversial remarks that young, healthy people do not need to get vaccinated. “I’m not an anti-vaxx person. In fact, I said I believe they’re safe and I encourage many people to take them,” he said in April 2020. “I just said I don’t think that if you’re a young healthy person you need it.”
Young has taken a stand over the use of his music in the past,filing a lawsuitagainstDonald Trumpin 2020, after the former presidentplayed his songs on the campaign trailfor reelection.
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source: people.com
