Barry Manilow shoots down Spotify rumor

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Barry Manilow writes the songs that make the whole world sing — and those tunes can still be found on Spotify.

Manilow, famous for hits including “I Write the Songs,” “Mandy,” and “Copacabana,” squashed the internet rumor that he’d followed Neil Young’s lead and pulled his music off the streaming platform amid criticism over its dissemination of COVID misinformation.

“I recently heard a rumor about me and Spotify.” the 78-year-old Brooklyn native tweeted Friday. “I don’t know where it started, but it didn’t start with me or anyone who represents me.”

Fans including actress Debra Messing had praised Manilow for what they believed was a courageous move.

“Thank you @barrymanilow for taking a surefooted step to support science, and protest potentially lethal misinformation disseminated by @Spotify via #JoeRogan,” she tweeted Thursday.

A Spotify spokesperson told the Hollywood Reporter Wednesday that Neil Young’s songs were being removed from the platform after he made that demand in response to COVID-related topic that had been discussed on “The Joe Rogan Experience.” That show’s host, Joe Rogan, is Spotify’s most-listened-to entertainer.

Among the more controversial podcasts Rogan did was New a Years Eve show featuring anti-vax Dr. Robert Malone. Malone, who helped develop mRNA technology but did not work on the COVID vaccines, frequently works the anti-vaxxer media scene spreading theories that are largely refuted by mainstream medical experts.