Back in 2017, when Joe Rogan took a dig at the then US President Donald Trump for being ‘greedy’, no one would have thought the ace UFC commentator might pursue the very same path. When Rogan signed the $250 million Spotify deal in Feb 2024, everyone knew that once a staunch critic of capitalism was now embracing a profit-driven system like a pro.

However, Joe is not the only one to be blamed for switching his stance. Earlier, The JRE was an exclusive product of Spotify but that is not the case after the 2024 Spotify X Joe Rogan deal. Now, Joe Rogan‘s podcast is easily accessible to other streaming platforms like YouTube, Apple Music, Amazon, etc. Spotify CEO Daniel Ek sensed very early that exclusivity might not be the way to move ahead. “That is the path we see going forward on more and more of our deals,” Ek said.

To make this model profitable, The JRE has started doing unskippable ads. As of Jan 2, 2025, Rogan’s podcast includes a few ads at the beginning of an episode and once or twice mid-episode, ARMA Colostrum, Bon Charge, Goal Zero, and Hexclad are a few ads among many o The JRE. Even the premium users, who pay a $11.99 monthly premium, can not get rid of these sponsored ads. And this is not sitting well with premium users.

The growing frustration among his audience was evident when a Reddit user, annoyed by the surge of ads in Rogan’s podcast, posted a screenshot of one of his Spotify episodes on the r/joerogan subreddit. The caption read, “Ads mid-episode make it pointless to pay for Spotify.” This moment struck an ironic chord, as the podcaster had previously voiced strong opposition to mid-episode advertisements—a stance that now seems to have shifted.

Adding fuel to the fire, Joe Rogan’s 2023 Netflix comedy special, Joe Rogan: Burn the Boats, drew widespread criticism and made headlines for all the wrong reasons. Disillusioned fans have increasingly taken to Reddit to vent their frustration, labeling the podcaster’s actions as “greedy.” Let’s explore what some of them had to say.

Fans slam Joe Rogan for exploiting them with Ads

Once celebrated as a voice for the common man, Joe Rogan, who started out as a humble paper distributor and hawker, is now facing criticism from his audience. With millions in his pocket thanks to his Spotify deal, fans argue that the podcaster’s priorities have shifted. One fan didn’t hold back, commenting, “Joe Rogan with $100 million: ‘Hey guys, let me take a quick break to tell you how much I am enjoying AG1.’“Another fan supported this view, saying, “His greed is stronger than his convictions.”

Much of this criticism centers on Joe Rogan’s exclusive Spotify contract, which now allows him to share his content on competing platforms like Apple and Amazon. Despite this, fans feel exploited by the inclusion of ads in his episodes. One fan noted, “Joe puts these ads on the episode, not Spotify. He’s a greedy little man.” This aligns with Spotify’s guidelines that ensure ad-free music streaming for premium users, while podcasts are permitted to include host-read ads and sponsorships independently.

Long-time fans also recall Joe Rogan’s stance before his Spotify deal in 2020. One commenter said, “Well before Spotify, he used to do ads at the beginning and then talk s–t about other podcasts that had ads midway.” Echoing this sentiment, another fan remarked, “So much for that ‘f-ck you money’ he used to brag about. Dude still freaks out if a video might get demonetized.”

Critics also targeted Joe Rogan’s advocacy for cannabis. One fan sarcastically commented, “Look, Joe barely makes enough cash to pay for his we-d and Jamie. Let’s just not mention the ads, ok? He’s doing his best.” These reactions reflect a growing frustration among fans, who feel that Rogan’s financial success has led to a departure from his earlier principles.

What’s your opinion on Joe Rogan’s decision to include ads, even for premium Spotify subscribers? Share your thoughts below!