“Before anybody hates…” Stephen A. Smith puts beef with Joe Rogan aside as new $250 million Spotify deal takes internet by storm

Featured commentator Stephen A. Smith is all praises for his UFC/MMA counterpart and feuding personality Joe Rogan's new Spotify stint.

“Before anybody hates…” Stephen A. Smith puts beef with Joe Rogan aside as new $250 million Spotify deal takes internet by storm

Joe Rogan's new Spotify deal earns the praises of Stephen A. Smith (Source: Twitter)

UFC’s color commentator Joe Rogan and Spotify have had a long love-hate association. The host of the prominent The Joe Rogan Experience podcast bagged over $100 million in exclusive rights in 2020, for Spotify owning The JRE MMA show. However, he has had his ups and downs, with COVID-19 disparagements and his ‘N-word’ slur controversy. Numerous artists boycotted Spotify, only to later return to the streaming platform over this issue. And now Stephen A. Smith. has entered the Spotify mix.

However, those issues are long gone. Rogan inked a new multiyear deal with Spotify reportedly worth around $250 million, but with stipulations. Another entity he has had contentious issues with is Stephen A. Smith, who is all praises of Rogan’s journalistic acumen. Speaking in the “The Stephen A. Smith Show”, here’s what the host said:

I want to say something, and I want y'all to listen to me, and listen to me good...Competition makes the world go round, but so does someone who sets a high standard. Joe Rogan - has near damn about 20 million subscribers! Joe Rogan deserves every penny of that deal...Joe Rogan, before anybody hates, and I'm not saying there's a whole bunch of haters out there...Joe Rogan deserves our respect, and from somebody in my position - appreciation for showing us the way...
Stephen A. Smith said
YouTube video

The star of ESPN’s “First Take” has had a reserved yet feuding reproach towards him. This is apparent from his diplomatic take on Rogan’s comments on the January 6th insurrection Capitol attack being a false flag. They have been involved in an ugly back-and-forth over digital media following their post-fight analysis at UFC 246.

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The JRE MMA show will no longer be streaming exclusively. As part of the new agreement, Rogan’s show will reappear on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and YouTube. The Wall Street Journal first reported the extension to Spotify. Hopefully, the topic can moreover act as a peace-ushering factor between the duo even more.

UFC 246 Joe Rogan-Stephen A. Smith beef: A brief history

Joe Rogan is over the moon, as the MMA commentator and his #1 podcast are staying on Spotify. The JRE MMA show once topped Spotify’s list of the most popular podcast listings in 2022. Banking on that prolonged fame and support from the fanbase, Rogan has struck a new deal for around $250 million.

Stephen A. Smith and Joe Rogan have a long beef ranging back to UFC 246
Stephen A. Smith and Joe Rogan have a long beef ranging back to UFC 246 (Source: espnpressroom.com/Twitter/IMAGO)

Concurrently, ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith has lauded him for it. Smith himself is a featured Commentator/Executive Producer for “First Take”, and host/Co-Executive Producer of ‘NBA in Stephen A’s World‘.

But things were not always smooth between the two media giants.

The beef between the two started after Smith made some comments that stirred up the MMA world. He said Donald Cerrone lost out to Conor McGregor in 40 seconds in the UFC 246 headliner due to the “fright factor”. His comments came across as disrespectful to the legendary “Cowboy” Cerrone.

And Rogan sneered at him for it.

YouTube video
I was upset at Stephen A. Smith and he made a video responding to me. Stephen A. Smith, I guess I should respond – you’re a very entertaining guy, I like you a lot, and I appreciate the props you gave me in that video, but you’re wrong. ‘Cowboy’ got messed up with those shoulders in the clinch...I think the problem is Stephen A. Smith, who’s a very entertaining guy and is very knowledgeable about other sports, this is not his wheelhouse. That style of dismissing athletes and putting people down — that’s how he made his name and it’s fun to listen to. He’s a fun guy to listen to. He talks great (expletive). I just think that this sport demands more appreciation...
Joe Rogan said

Rogan made the statements at The JRE MMA show #88 with Frankie Edgar. Accordingly, Smith took to social media to fire back. What followed was a somewhat ugly to-and-fro between the two. However, the duo seems to be in a more amicably respectable place nowadays.

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