Netflix suspends trans staffer who criticized Chappelle special for crashing meeting
Netflix has suspended three employees — including a transgender staffer who criticized Dave Chappelle’s latest comedy special — for allegedly attending a business meeting they were not invited to.
The streaming giant has launched an investigation into senior software engineer Terra Field and two other workers for crashing its quarterly business review meeting intended only for directors and vice presidents at the company, the Los Angeles Times confirmed Monday.
Last week, Field was among multiple trans staff members who publicly condemned Netflix’s decision to release Chappelle’s “The Closer,†which included several transphobic and insensitive remarks.
“It is absolutely untrue to say that we have suspended any employees for tweeting about this show,†a spokesperson for the streamer said in a statement to The Times.
“Our employees are encouraged to disagree openly and we support their right to do so.â€
‘Those words have real-world consequences,’ tweeted TV writer Jaclyn Moore after Dave Chappelle made transphobic comments in his new Netflix special.
Trans TV writer Jaclyn Moore, a showrunner and executive producer of Netflix’s “Dear White People,†also spoke out on Twitter against the Chappelle special and cut ties with Netflix.
GLAAD on Monday said Netflix executives need to “listen to LGBTQ employees, industry leaders, and audiences and commit to living up to their own standards.â€
“Netflix has a policy that content ‘designed to incite hate or violence’ is not allowed on the platform, but we all know that anti-LGBTQ content does exactly that,†GLAAD said in a statement.
Field declined to comment on the suspension when reached by The Times but took to Twitter Monday to thank her supporters.
“I just want to say I appreciate everyone’s support,†she wrote. “You’re all the best, especially when things are difficult.â€
Chappelle has painfully glaring blind spots when it comes to intersectionality. Yes, you can be Black and queer at the same time.
During the quarterly meeting, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos and other invited attendees reportedly discussed how to deal with employees expressing concerns about Chappelle’s stand-up program.
After the virtual gathering, Sarandos defended the company’s latest collaboration with the comedian in a follow-up memo obtained by Variety.
“Chappelle is one of the most popular stand-up comedians today, and we have a long standing deal with him. His last special ‘Sticks & Stones,’ also controversial, is our most watched, stickiest and most award winning stand-up special to date,†the statement read.
“As with our other talent, we work hard to support their creative freedom — even though this means there will always be content on Netflix some people believe is harmful.â€
Another Monday report from the Verge contained a longer excerpt of Sarandos’ internal message, which said Netflix would not remove the Chappelle special despite mounting criticism.
Comic Dave Chappelle got a warm welcome at the Hollywood Bowl despite ‘being canceled’ for making transphobic comments in his new Netflix special.
“Several of you have also asked where we draw the line on hate. We don’t allow titles on Netflix that are designed to incite hate or violence, and we don’t believe The Closer crosses that line,†Sarandos reportedly added.
“I recognize, however, that distinguishing between commentary and harm is hard, especially with stand-up comedy which exists to push boundaries. Some people find the art of stand-up to be mean spirited but our members enjoy it, and it’s an important part of our content offering.â€
In a lengthy Twitter thread last week, Field denounced the anti-trans rhetoric performed by Chappelle and platformed by her employer.
“I work at @netflix. Yesterday we launched another Chappelle special where he attacks the trans community, and the very validity of transness — all while trying to pit us against other marginalized groups. You’re going to hear a lot of talk about ‘offense’. We are not offended,†Field tweeted.
“What we object to is the harm that content like this does to the trans community (especially trans people of color) and VERY specifically Black trans women.â€
Members of the LGBTQ+ community were not pleased with comedian Dave Chappelle co-signing J.K. Rowling’s transphobic remarks in his new Netflix special.
To underscore her point, Field shared a grim and long list of trans people who were “not offended†by Chappelle’s comments — because they died in transphobic attacks before “The Closer†was released.
According to the Human Rights Campaign, at least 38 transgender or gender-nonconforming people have been killed so far in 2021. Historically, Black and Latinx women have been attacked at higher rates than other trans individuals.
“Promoting [trans-exclusionary radical feminist] ideology (which is what we did by giving it a platform yesterday) directly harms trans people, it is not some neutral act,†Field continued.
“This is not an argument with two sides. It is an argument with trans people who want to be alive and people who don’t want us to be. ... This all gets brushed off as offense though — because if we’re just ‘too sensitive’ then it is easy to ignore us.â€
Staff writer Wendy Lee contributed to this report.
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