Netflix said Friday it had fired the leader of a trans resource group at the company. Reason being the “leaking” of financial data “outside the company” and organizing trans employee walkout.
The now ex-employee, did not share their identity for fear of online harassment. This “Black” and “pregnant” person, as reported by Verge, is accused of sending information to Bloomberg. Information apparently detailed the higher-than-average cost to produce Dave Chappelle’s latest Netflix special.
The public is criticizing “The Closer”, comedian Dave Chapelle’s latest Netflix special, for containing transphobic comments. The individual who accused him of this was also in charge of organizing a walkout earlier this month. Organizer named it “Trans Employee Walkout”. That is to say the intent was to protest Netflix’s handling of the controversial comedy special.
Hollywood Reporter first reported the firing on Friday.
“We have let go of an employee for sharing confidential, commercially sensitive information outside the company,” a Netflix spokesperson said to Insider on Friday. “We understand this employee may have been motivated by disappointment and hurt with Netflix. But maintaining a culture of trust and transparency is core to our company”.
Netflix paying too much?
However, the employee told Bloomberg that Netflix spent exorbitant amounts of money to produce Dave Chapelle’s comedy specials.
According to the Bloomberg report, Netflix spent a whopping $24.1 million on The Closer. They spent $23.6 million on Chappelle’s 2019 special, “Sticks & Stones.”
For comparison, Netflix spent $21.4 million to produce “Squid Game”. This cultural phenomenon show is their most-watched show ever.
Moreover, the internal documents also revealed that Chappelle’s 2019 special had an “impact value” of $19.4 million. In other words, special cost more to produce than it created in value for the company.
A Netflix spokesperson said a review of internal logs found that only one employee had accessed the information shared with Bloomberg.
Chappelle supports J.K. Rowling
Critics tore into “The Closer,” which debuted October 5, after the comedian made transphobic comments in the special. Comments included “gender is a fact” and voicing support for “Harry Potter” author J.K. Rowling. Similarly, the famous book author has made anti-trans comments in the past.
Multiple Netflix employees took to social media condemning the special and Netflix’s decision to give Chappelle a platform. LGBTQ+ comedian Hannah Gadsby criticized Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos in an Instagram post on Friday. Earlier, Sarandos referenced her in a memo defending the decision to air Chappelle’s special.
More people supporting trans employee walkout
Jaclyn Moore, who identifies as trans and works as an executive producer on Netflix’s “Dear White People,” announced she would stop working with the company. Above all, she says that Netflix profits from “blatantly and dangerously transphobic content.” As expected, representatives from Netflix disagree with that statement.
Consequently, Netflix is reinstating trans employee Terra Field and two others. Both Field and two other are currently not working. They were suspended for attending an executive meeting uninvited to protest Chappelle’s special.
“Our employees are encouraged to disagree openly, and we support their right to do so,” a Netflix spokesperson previously told Insider.
Original article: source
Leave a Reply