When Joe Rogan's controversial comments on JRE podcast forced Spotify to set up $100 million diversity fund for "historically marginalized groups"

Joe Rogan's purportedly controversial remarks once prompted Spotify to establish a multimillion-dollar diversity fund. Rogan often discusses a wide range of topics, including societal, political, and technological issues, on his widely recognized podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience. He regularly invites politicians and subject matter experts to engage in detailed conversations on these matters.

However, the veteran UFC commentator has frequently found himself at the center of online controversy, often due to comments made on his podcast that some perceive as offensive. In February 2022, while Rogan was under an exclusive deal with Spotify, he faced considerable criticism after footage resurfaced of him using racial slurs in past episodes of his show.

The outrage grew even more heated due to his controversial comments on anti-coronavirus vaccines and alleged anti-Semitic remarks, leading Spotify employees to call for the cancellation of Rogan's contract with the platform.

In response, Spotify CEO Daniel Ek sought to calm the situation by apologizing to his disgruntled staff and committing $100 million "for the licensing, development, and marketing of music (artists and songwriters) and audio content from historically marginalized groups."

However, a March 2023 report from Bloomberg revealed that the $100 million "Creator Equity Fund" had allocated less than 10% of its budget toward its intended purpose. The initiative, which was already behind schedule in hiring an eight-person team to manage the project, has also been hindered by shifting priorities.

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When Dana White said he was ready to leave UFC over Joe Rogan's online backlash

When Joe Rogan became embroiled in online backlash from Spotify employees over his alleged racist comments, several top UFC executives also mulled the possibility of distancing themselves from one of their longest-serving employees.

However, during his appearance on the FLAGRANT podcast in June 2024, UFC CEO Dana White shared that he firmly expressed his opposition to such a move and stated that he would resign if the organization chose to part ways with his long-time friend, Rogan:

"You think that you're gonna f**king cancel Joe Rogan, and I'm gonna just say, OK? No, I will f**king quit this job and leave and go do something else before you're gonna try to f**k it. And the whole cancel thing... If you're in the right place in your life, then who the f**k's gonna cancel you? The only ones who can really cancel you are your f**king family and friends. F**k all these other people. Who gives a sh*t what anyone of these f**king people thinks?"

Check out Dana White's comments below (13:26):