Netflix staff Stage Walkout in Hollywood over Dave Chappelle Special – CBS Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) Dozens of Netflix employees and their followers staged a walkout Wednesday in Hollywood to protest the transphobic comments that Dave Chappelle made in his latest comedy special, released earlier this month by the streaming giant.
People Gather in Support of Netflix Transgender Employee Walkout in Los Angeles, California on October 20, 2021. (Getty Images)
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Walkout and protest took place around noon. 10:30 a.m. in block 1300 on Vine Street, a few blocks from the Netflix building in Sunset Bronson Studios off Sunset Boulevard.
“We value our trans colleagues and allies and understand the deep damage caused,” a Netflix spokesman wrote in a statement to CBSLA. “We respect the decision of any employee who chooses to go out and recognize that we have a lot more work to do both within Netflix and in our content.”
The organizers of the walkout said they plan to present Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos for a range of employee requirements. They are also expected to require the streaming service to agree to release more content that reflects the LGBTQ community.
Chappelle’s special, “The Closer” released on October 5, 2021, has led to great internal unrest on Netflix, with many blasting the streaming service’s decision to carry it.
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October 20, 2021. (CBSLA)
Sarandos strongly defended the decision in a series of internal notes and came under more fire from some employees for his defense of the program.
“When we think about this challenge, we have to entertain the world,” Sarandos told The Hollywood Reporter. “Part of that challenge means that you have an audience with different tastes, different emotions, different beliefs. You really can not please everyone, otherwise the content would be quite boring. And we’re telling our employees in advance that we’re trying to entertain our members, and that some of the content on Netflix is not going to suffer, and therefore this kind of engagement with artistic expression and free artistic expression is sometimes in conflict with people who feel protected and safe. I think it’s something we struggle with all the time when these two values collide.
“But I think the recording of the thesis on Netflix is in line with our comedy offering, it’s in line with Dave Chappelle’s comedy brand, and it’s … one of the times when there’s something on Netflix , which you will not like. “
A large group of people are gathered in the yard to #Netflix on Vine St to protest the streaming giant’s release of one #DaveChappelle special that includes transphobic jokes. They call for reforms on Netflix, including investing in trans-talent and creators. @CBSLA pic.twitter.com/PxvYPXwBIL
– John Schreiber (@johnschreiber) October 20, 2021
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(© Copyright 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All rights reserved. City News Service contributed to this report.)
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