Ava DuVernay Cuts Ties with Spotifty

GayNrd Editors February 17, 2022

Director Ava DuVernay’s Array Collective has cease any and all production and business dealings.

A spokesperson for Array confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter on Thursday.

Last year, Array and Spotify had announced an exclusive, multiyear deal for Array to produce scripted and unscripted podcasts with Gimlet, the studio owned by Spotify. Though no podcasts or shows had yet been released under the pact, multiple projects were in development, according to the Array spokesperson.

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.

Array’s exit from Spotify comes as the streaming company has faced continued scrutiny over its marquee podcaster, Joe Rogan, who hosts the Spotify-exclusive The Joe Rogan Experience show. Prominent musicians like Neil Young and Joni Mitchell have pulled their music from the service in protest of COVID misinformation that has spread on Rogan’s show, while other artists like India.Arie have condemned the host for repeatedly using a racial slur about Black people in past clips that circulated on social media. (Rogan has apologized for using the N-word, calling his actions “regretful and shameful.”)

Earlier this month, Spotify CEO acknowledged that Rogan’s language was “incredibly hurtful” but remained steady in his decision to keep the podcaster on Spotify, citing concerns about “silencing Joe” as the platform seeks to “[elevate] all types of creators.”

“We should have clear lines around content and take action when they are crossed, but canceling voices is a slippery slope,” Ek wrote in a message to staff at the time.