Alright internet folks buckle up because some drama just unfolded in the podcasting world. Spotify has finally pulled the plug on Andrew Tate 's seriously controversial podcast called "pimping hoes". Yeah you read that right. After a ton of complaints and even a petition blowing up they decided to remove it. Let's get into why this happened and what it all means.
'Pimping Hoes Degree Course' Gone From Spotify: Users and Employees Said Enough Is Enough
So Spotify gave the boot to Tate's "degree course" which was as messed up as it sounds. This "course" was teaching guys how to well "pimp hoes". People were not happy about it to say the least. A petition online got over 92000 signatures demanding Spotify take it down. That's a lot of angry people.
Apparently even some folks working at Spotify were raising eyebrows. Tech news site 404 Media reported that Spotify employees were chatting internally saying it was "pretty vile" that Spotify was hosting this stuff. One employee even joked "Happy Women's History Month everybody!" You can feel the sarcasm right?
Spotify is saying they removed the podcast because it broke their rules not just because of employee complaints. But it's pretty clear the pressure was on from all sides.
What Was So Bad About This Podcast? Think Manipulation Misogyny and Exploitation 101
If you are wondering what kind of stuff was in this "pimping hoes" podcast it is as awful as you can imagine. Users who heard it said it was teaching men how to "manipulate control and profit from the exploitation of women". Seriously messed up lessons.
Spotify's rules are supposed to stop content that is "dehumanising" or that promotes "harassment or abuse" based on things like gender or sex. And yeah a podcast teaching "pimping hoes" definitely seems to cross that line.
But here's the thing some of Tate's other podcasts are still on Spotify. Including another gem called a "PhD course" on "how to get girls fast and easy". This one has "iron clad" dating rules like "never allow a woman to be friends with men" and calling dating a "sexual marketplace". He even claims women who are "understanding and kind" only exist if you "force her to be that way". Creepy stuff right?
Tate Brothers Legal Mess: Rape Human Trafficking and "Matrix Attacks"
If you don't know Andrew Tate is not just some random internet dude. He is a super controversial influencer known for really extreme misogynistic views and even anti-semitic stuff. And it's not just talk. He and his brother Tristan are facing serious criminal charges in Romania including rape and human trafficking. They are also wanted in the UK for similar allegations.
The Tate brothers were even in jail in Romania for a bit but now they are out though they say it was all "unfair" a "matrix attack" even. They deny all the charges of course saying they are targets because they are rich. But a lot of people are not buying it.
And get this Tate's podcasts even popped up in a really disturbing crime. A guy in the UK who murdered a mom and her two daughters reportedly watched Tate videos right before. Chilling connection.
Spotify's Tricky Spot: Balancing Free Speech and Not Platforming Harmful Stuff
Spotify is in a tough spot here. They say they don't remove content just because someone is controversial outside their platform. But they also have rules against hate speech and harmful content. It's a fine line to walk.
They got heat before back in 2022 when musician Neil Young pulled his music off Spotify because of Joe Rogan's podcast spreading Covid misinformation. Young came back later but it shows these platforms are always under pressure to decide what is okay and what's not.
Spotify says they judged each podcast episode and removed the "pimping hoes" one because it broke their policies. But with so much questionable content still out there it raises a bigger question: what should these platforms do about stuff that is really harmful even if it is just "talk"?
Key Takeaways: Spotify vs Andrew Tate Podcast Drama
- Spotify removed Andrew Tate's "pimping hoes" podcast due to policy violations and user/employee pressure.
- Podcast content was extremely misogynistic teaching manipulation and exploitation of women.
- Petition with over 92000 signatures demanded Spotify remove Tate's content.
- Spotify employees raised internal concerns calling Tate's content "vile".
- Tate and his brother face serious criminal charges including rape and human trafficking.
- Controversy highlights platform's struggle to balance free speech with moderating harmful content.
- Some other Tate podcasts remain on Spotify raising questions about future moderation.
What's Next for Spotify and Content Controversies? The Debate is Just Getting Started
So Spotify took down one Andrew Tate podcast. Big deal right? Well it kind of is. It shows that even big platforms like Spotify are starting to respond when users and even their own employees push back hard enough against really toxic stuff. But this is probably just the beginning of the conversation. How should Spotify and other platforms handle controversial figures and harmful content going forward? It's a question with no easy answers but one that is not going away anytime soon.