Former US President Donald Trump has waded into the Joe Rogan Spotify controversy by telling the contentious podcaster to shrug off attacks against him.
In a newly released statement, Mr Trump encouraged Mr Rogan to stand his ground and resist efforts to silence him or change his ways.
“Joe Rogan is an interesting and popular guy,” wrote the ex-president, “but he’s got to stop apologising to the Fake News and Radical Left maniacs and lunatics.
“How many ways can you say you’re sorry? Joe, just go about what you do so well and don’t let them make you look weak and frightened.
“That’s not you and it never will be!”
Recent outrage over Joe Rogan had been sparked by interviews on his podcast ranging from Covid-19, to jokes about racism and sex acts.
While apologising for some of the recent controversial incidents, Spotify which had paid Joe Rogan $100m to host his content in an exclusive deal for 11-years, had in fact removed a number of older episodes whilst concurrently defending their decision to continue hosting him.
Some older artists including Joni Mitchel and Neil Young have asked Spotify to remove their music from the streaming platform over the issue, a number of people on the right have defending Rogan over claims of an organised campaign of left wing “cancellaton”.
Content site Rumble is reported to have offered Joe Rogan $100m to leave Spotify and move to their “anti-censorship” platform, telling Rogan they stood with him and his legion of fans “in desire for real conversation.”