Harry and Meghan address Spotify anti-vax content drama: 'Misinformation'

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have addressed their $34 million deal with Spotify, after the streaming giant was called out for hosting content by controversial anti-vaxer Joe Rogan.

According to The Sun, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were under pressure to ditch their mega-deal, after musician Neil Young told Spotify "they can have Rogan or Young. Not both."

The streaming platform refused to give in to the rock legend’s ultimatum to drop Joe Rogan’s podcast from its platform over fake vaccine information, and has since been flooded with a host of deletion requests from other users as the hashtag "Spotify Deleted" began trending on Twitter.

In a statement released on Sunday, the royals revealed they have spoken with Spotify bosses about their concerns.

"Since the inception of Archewell, we have worked to address the real-time global misinformation crisis," the statement read.

RELATED:

• Queen 'orders' William and Harry to make peace ahead of Platinum Jubilee

• Royal photographer reveals hidden detail in 'historical' photo

• Prince William dodges reporter's bold Prince Andrew query: 'Can't hear'

“Hundreds of millions of people are affected by the serious harms of mis- and disinformation every day.

“Last April, our co-founders began expressing concerns to our partners at Spotify about the all too real consequences of Covid misinformation on its platform.

“We have continued to express our concerns to Spotify to ensure changes to its platform are made to help address this public health crisis.

“We look to Spotify to meet this moment and are committed to continuing our work together as it does.”

With millions of daily subscribers, 'The Joe Rogan Experience' is the most popular podcaster on Spotify's platform by far. But he has come under intense scrutiny for spreading misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines and treatments — prompting an open letter last month from hundreds of scientists, professors and public health experts who urged Spotify to crack down on Rogan and pandemic misinformation at large.

"With an estimated 11 million listeners per episode, [Rogan's show] is the world’s largest podcast and has tremendous influence. Though Spotify has a responsibility to mitigate the spread of misinformation on its platform, the company presently has no misinformation policy," the letter read.

According to Rolling Stone, Neil Young first made the Spotify removal request on Monday last week, in a now-deleted letter to his manager and a Warner Music Group executive.

On Wednesday night, he followed up with a lengthy post on his website, writing in part, "Most of the listeners hearing the unfactual, misleading and false COVID information of Spotify are 24 years old.

"These young people believe Spotify would never present grossly unfactual information. They unfortunately are wrong. I knew I had to try to point that out."

Additional reporting by Alexandra Canal.

Never miss a thing. Sign up to Yahoo Lifestyle’s daily newsletter.

Or if you have a story idea, email us at lifestyle.tips@yahooinc.com.