Spotify has removed several podcasts featuring controversial influencer Andrew Tate following criticism from its employees and the public. The episodes, which included Tate’s so-called guide to “pimping” women, were described as “vile” by staff members, prompting the streaming platform to take action.
According to reports, Spotify employees expressed their disgust in a company Slack channel, with one calling the content “pretty vile” and another sarcastically noting the timing during Women’s History Month.
While Spotify initially claimed the removal was due to policy violations rather than employee pressure, the decision highlights the platform’s ongoing struggle to balance free speech with harmful content.
Despite the removal of some episodes, other controversial content, such as a two-hour episode titled “How to get girls FAST AND EASY by Andrew Tate (PHD Course),” remains available. Spotify stated that it evaluates each episode individually and does not remove content based on off-platform behavior.
The backlash extended beyond Spotify’s internal discussions. A Change.org petition, launched by Australian trauma counselor Renee Chopping, demanded the removal of Tate’s “harmful courses” and garnered over 86,500 signatures. Chopping accused Spotify of profiting from content that teaches men how to exploit women, calling it “lessons in predation.”
Recently, Tate’s influence came under further scrutiny after it was revealed that Kyle Clifford, who murdered his ex-partner and her family, had consumed Tate’s content. Despite his legal troubles, Tate has continued to evade significant consequences, with Romanian authorities recently lifting travel restrictions, allowing him to relocate to the U.S.
Andrew Tate, a 38-year-old British-American former kickboxer, has built a controversial online presence, amassing a following in the so-called “manosphere.” He and his brother Tristan face criminal investigations in multiple countries, including allegations of rape and human trafficking, which they deny.
After arriving in Florida, Tate posted, “First day of Freedom in Miami,” only to flee to Los Angeles shortly after the state’s attorney general opened a criminal probe into the allegations against him. His ability to move freely has sparked outrage and calls for accountability, including from British MPs urging Prime Minister Keir Starmer to seek his extradition.
