Spotify bites back at former Victorian Liberal leader Michael O’Brien over Daniel Andrews ‘wrapped’ repost

One MP had a crack at Dan Andrews using Spotify’s popular Wrapped roundup - but it was the music streaming service who had the last laugh.

Spotify Australia has taken a swipe at a senior Victorian Liberal for politicising its hugely popular Spotify Wrapped roundup, after the MP capitalised on the campaign this week.

The company this week released its 2021 Spotify Wrapped roundup – an annual feature where users are served up their most-played songs, artists and albums of the year.

Former Liberal leader Michael O’Brien on Thursday capitalised on the marketing campaign, using the feature to criticise Daniel Andrews’ pandemic laws, which passed through parliament today.

The comment was posted alongside an edited graphic taking a gibe at the government’s controversies, including lockdowns, debt, corruption probes and unemployment.

“2021 Spotify Wrapped playlists often tell you a lot about your year. Daniel Andrews really went hard on his this year,” Mr O’Brien posted.

2021 Spotify Wrapped playlists often tell you a lot about your year.

Daniel Andrews really went hard on his this year... pic.twitter.com/A36MCMu1Bj

— Michael O'Brien (@michaelobrienmp) December 2, 2021

The post took aim at the government’s handling of its controversial pandemic laws and dealings with the Greens, Animal Justice Party, Reason Party and the Transport Matters Party, whose MPs contribution helped to get the legislation over the line.

The graphic listed the Premier’s “top genre” as arrogance, and added one of his “top artists” as the Chinese Communist Party.

Mr O’Brien had served as the leader of the Victorian opposition since December 2018 until his ousting as leader in September.

But Mr O’Brien’s post on Thursday was not received well by Spotify, with the service going out of its way to distance itself from the post.

Just in case it needs to be clarified for anyone. This is not Spotify data.

— Spotify Australia (@SpotifyAU) December 2, 2021

“Just in case it needs to be clarified for anyone. This is not Spotify data,” the Spotify Australia’s official Twitter account responded on Thursday.

The sassy tweet has since been shared widely, gaining more traction that Mr O’Brien’s original tweet.

Some users called the response “embarrassing”, while others said it was “a defamation case waiting to happen”.

Mr O’Brien later retweeted the company, simply saying “this is true”.

Imagine trying to get "down with the youths" only for the company responsible for the data turning around and saying "sit down champ" https://t.co/nR0bXylSCz

— Oi Oi Plod (@plodskitv) December 2, 2021

okay NOW it's funny https://t.co/gkBkk1CfnF

— Angus Livingston (@anguslivingston) December 2, 2021

Twitter needs a "this is both hilarious and horrifying" button at this point. Conservative "humour" shows satire is long dead. #auspolhttps://t.co/RqlyuGyRad

— Stephen Collins (@trib) December 2, 2021

The post is relatively tame compared to content other Liberal MPs have posted online in recent months, where the Premier has been compared to Adolf Hitler and labelled a communist.

Controversial Liberal politician Bernie Finn was forced to take down offensive posts depicting Daniel Andrews to the Nazi leader.

Mr Finn has become infamous for regularly posting controversial and often offensive content online, with some Liberals worried his online behaviour could bring the party into disrepute.

Liberal MPs have publicly criticised Mr Finn’s content, which last month prompted a warning from Mr Guy that he would “expel” those taking part in bad behaviour on social media.

Originally published as Spotify bites back at former Victorian Liberal leader Michael O’Brien over Daniel Andrews ‘wrapped’ repost