The politicization of every part of society is tearing apart the country.
It’s become particularly glaring in the sports world.
Now a “woke” former ESPN host tried to shake down one company for millions.
The main tactic of leftists is to criticize something until they control (or destroy) it.
That’s what’s happening to streaming giant Spotify and podcaster Joe Rogan.
The establishment hates the fact that Rogan gets 11 million viewers and listeners for each of his podcasts while legacy media lags far behind.
There has been a concerted effort to attack Rogan from all angles, and former ESPN host Jemele Hill is getting in on the act.
Hill raised her profile by absurdly claiming that Donald Trump and all his supporters were white supremacists, which is awkward because Hill confessed that her own mother voted for Trump.
A Democratic PAC circulated online a montage of Rogan saying the N-word completely out of context, which engendered leftist accusations of racism.
Liberals baying for Rogan’s blood want him canceled.
From The New York Times:
“The moves came as Spotify faced growing dissension among high-profile creators. This month Ava DuVernay, the film director who announced a podcast deal with Spotify a year ago but has yet to produce any content under it, severed her ties with Spotify, according to a statement from her production company, Array. And Jemele Hill, the former ESPN commentator, said that Spotify’s defense of Mr. Rogan had created problems with her audience, and raised questions about the sincerity of the company’s dedication to minority talent.”
But Hill is also taking the opportunity to make some extra cash for herself or other left-wing content creators.
“What I would like to see…is for them to hand $100 million to somebody who is Black.”
Left-wing activists of all stripes have been pulling this scam for decades.
For example, women’s groups might pillory a business as sexist until it donates money to NOW or a similar group and pledges to hire more women in executive roles.
Businesses who don’t want the bad press have paid the “ransom” for years.
But now the problem has gotten worse.
The true believers are now in positions of power within the company.
Spotify CEO Daniel Ek apologized to “woke” employees during a town hall meeting.
Ek said:
“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…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.”
Thus far, Spotify has shakily weathered the storm, but the company has exposed its underbelly to the enemy.
The left will continue to attack Rogan and Spotify, and people like Hill will be there every step of the way to poke at them.
The great irony of caving to the mob is that it does not stop the attacks; it increases them.
If Spotify were to take Hill’s advice and give a (left-wing) black commentator $100 million, it would only guarantee more baseless accusations of racism and bigotry.
