Netflix Employees Walk Out To Protest Over Dave Chappelle Special
Multiple Netflix employees have walked out since the streaming service remain sin support of Dave Chappelle’s comedy special “The Closer,” which some have dubbed as transphobic.
The protest was put together by trans activist Ashlee Marie Preston and there were counter protesters yelling “We like jokes,” but they were outnumbered by Netflix employees chanting “Trans lives matter.”
“Artivists/Creators, grassroots organizers, public figures and supporters spanning multiple communities are coming together to underscore the importance of responsible content offerings that prioritize the safety and dignity of all marginalized communities,” Preston said on Instagram. “We aim to use this moment to shift the social ecology around what Netflix leadership deems ethical entertainment, while establishing policies and guidelines that protect employees and consumers, alike.”
RELATED: Transgender Employees At Netflix Plan Walk Out In Protest Of Dave Chappelle Special
CEO Ted Serandos admitted to not handling the situation the best while speaking with Variety. “I screwed up that internal communication,” he said. “I should have led with a lot more humanity. Meaning, I had a group of employees who were definitely feeling pain and hurt from a decision we made. And I think that needs to be acknowledged.”
Preston says that they reached out to Dave to have a conversation about it, but, he has not responded.