One of 3 Netflix Employees Suspended for Criticizing Dave Chapelle


Netflix recently suspended three employees, including a transgender employee who posted a Twitter thread criticizing the new Dave Chappelle stand-up special on the streaming service as transphobic.

Employees were suspended after a person familiar with the decision, who spoke to discuss a personnel issue on an anonymous basis, attended a virtual business meeting between senior executives at the company they were not invited to. Netflix said in a statement that its transgender employee Terra Field was not suspended due to tweets criticizing Mr Chappelle’s show.

“It is absolutely untrue to say that we have suspended any employee for tweeting about this show,” a Netflix spokesperson said in a statement. “Our employees are openly encouraged to disagree, and we support their right to do so.”

Mr. Chappelle’s comedy special “The Closer” was released on Netflix on October 5 and was quickly criticized by several organizations, including Glaad, for “taunting trans people”. Jaclyn Moore, executive producer of the Netflix series “Dear White People,” said last week that she will not work with Netflix “as long as they continue to produce and profit from blatantly and dangerously transphobic content.”

Field, a software engineer at Netflix, tweeted last week that the special “attacks the trans community and the reality of transgenderness”.

It was made public on Monday following a report of its suspension. BoundaryHe tweeted: “I just want to say I appreciate everyone’s support. You are all the best, especially when things are tough.”

When criticism of Mr Chappelle’s special began last week, Netflix’s executive vice president Ted Sarandos sent a memo to employees defending the comedian.

“A few of you have also asked where we draw the line on hate,” Mr. Sarandos wrote in the note. “We don’t allow content designed to incite hatred or violence on Netflix, and we don’t believe ‘The Closer’ crosses that line. However, I am aware that it is difficult to distinguish between comment and harm, especially in stand-up comedy, which exists to push the boundaries. Some people find stand-up art brutal, but our members enjoy it and it’s an important part of our content offering.”

Mr. Sarandos also referred to Netflix’s “long-standing deal” with Mr Chappelle, declaring that the comedian’s 2019 special “Sticks & Stones” was also “controversial” and “our most-watched, stickiest and most award-winning stand-up. He said it was special for today.”

on Netflix in 2019 criticized When you block part of Hasan Minhaj’s current program, “Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj” In Saudi Arabia, after the country’s government made a request to do so. In the episode, Mr. Minaj criticized the Saudi Arabian government and questioned the role of Saudi Arabia. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the murder of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

“We’re not in the news business,” said Reed Hastings, vice president of Netflix, announcing the decision in 2019. “We are not trying to do the truth for power. We’re trying to entertain.”



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