LONDON: Spotify Technology’s shares fell 5 percent on Friday after Joe Rogan’s podcast was briefly not accessible on the company’s streaming platform.
The podcast can now be accessed and Spotify did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The company has been under fire after Rogan, who signed a $100-million deal with Spotify in 2020, aired controversial COVID-19 views on his show and drew protests from artists Neil Young, Joni Mitchell and India Arie.
Spotify’s Chief Content Officer Dawn Ostroff told advertisers at a conference last week that the backlash around Rogan’s podcast had been a “real learning experience” for the streaming service.
The company’s shares, which have fallen about 59 percent since hitting a record high nearly a year ago, were trading at $151.16 on the New York Stock Exchange.
Spotify shares fall after Joe Rogan’s podcast briefly not accessible
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Spotify shares fall after Joe Rogan’s podcast briefly not accessible
Egyptian host Ramez Galal under heat following a lawsuit for his Ramadan prank show
DUBAI: Egyptian actor and host Ramez Galal is under fire following a lawsuit by Egyptian actress Asmaa Galal after her appearance on his Ramadan prank show “Ramez Level the Monster.”
Ramez, known for his prank programs, returned to the screen this year for the latest edition of his show, but Asmaa took legal action against him once the episode was aired, claiming that his commentary constituted mockery and bullying.
She claims Ramez opened the episode segment by making disparaging remarks about her appearance, criticizing her choice of tight leggings, commenting on her body, and questioning whether her features were natural.
According to a statement from her lawyers’ office, the actress agreed to appear on the show on the understanding that it followed the usual prank format, without being informed of any added voice-overs or edited commentary in post-production.
However, the episode included phrases and remarks that the statement said amounted to personal insults and bodily mockery, with no relevance to the prank itself.
Her legal team emphasized that while satire and entertainment are protected forms of expression, they do not justify defamation or personal humiliation, particularly when targeting someone’s dignity or physical appearance.
The statement also noted that she initially chose to remain silent out of respect for Ramadan, but ultimately decided to respond, stressing that personal dignity remains a red line regardless of the entertainment context.
The episode has caused a significant backlash, with the National Council for Women in Egypt rejecting the treatment of women in such shows, affirming that personal dignity is a “red line.”
Ramez’s show has attracted controversy for years with accusations of torture, alleged harassment and physical contact.
