TELEVISION
Trans Netfl ix Employees Protest Chappelle Special
Workers stage a virtual walkout to send a message to streaming giant
BY TAT BELLAMY-WALKER
LGBTQ advocates led a
rally outside of Netfl ix offi
ces in Los Angeles on
October 20 in support
of trans Netfl ix employees who
walked off the job to protest Dave
Chappelle’s transphobic comments
in his comedy special, “The Closer.”
The rally, which also focused on
Netfl ix’s handling of workplace issues
stemming from the controversy,
drew signifi cant media attention
and added to the fallout over
a comedy special that has since
led to the suspension of one trans
employee and the fi ring of another
after they both stood up against
“The Closer.”
Trans activist Ashlee Marie Preston
organized the rally and decried
the special as harmful toward the
transgender and non-binary community.
“Artivists/Creators, grassroots
organizers, public fi gures, 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 wrote on Instagram. “We
aim to use this moment to shift
the social ecology around what
Netfl ix leadership deems ethical
entertainment, while establishing
policies and guidelines that protect
employees and consumers,
alike.”
Protesters at Netfl ix offi ces in Los Angeles on October 20 as employees staged a virtual walkout over
the Dave Chappelle comedy special, “The Closer.”
According to the news outlet
The 19th, protesters faced counterprotests
calling for Netfl ix to keep
the transphobic special on the
platform, though the company has
resisted demands to remove it. According
to the 19th, hecklers at the
protest yelled out saying “jokes are
funny.”
During the special, Chappelle
boldly announced that he
is a trans-exclusionary radical
feminist or TERF and stated that
“every human being on Earth
had to pass through the legs of
a woman to be on Earth. That is
a fact.”
Dahlia Belle, a representative
from Trans Lifeline, a suicide
REUTERS/MARIO ANZUONI
hotline for the transgender and
non-binary community, was among
those who condemned Chappelle’s
speech at the protest. Others — including
prominent LGBTQ acting
stars — showed virtual support
through social media.
“I stand with every employee at
Netfl ix using their voice to ensure
a safe and supportive work environment,”
“Schitt’s Creek” star
Dan Levy said in a written statement
on Twitter. “I’ve seen fi rsthand
how vital television can be
when it comes to infl uencing the
cultural conversation. That impact
is real and works both ways: positively
AND negatively. Transphobia
is unacceptable and harmful. That
isn’t a debate.”
Elliot Page also stepped up on
Twitter, writing, “I stand with the
trans, non-binary, and BIPOC
employees at Netfl ix fi ghting for
more and better trans stories and
a more inclusive workplace #NetflixWalkout.”
The LGBTQ media monitoring
group GLAAD praised the protesters
and Netfl ix employees.
“As the #Netfl ixWalkout and
Stand in Solidarity rally begin,
GLAAD stands with and thanks
the Netfl ix employees, allies, and
LGBTQ and Black advocates calling
for accountability and change
within Netfl ix and in the entertainment
industry as a whole,”
GLAAD wrote in a tweet. “The Netfl
ix employees’ asks for long-term
investment in content from trans,
non-binary, and BIPOC creators,
fully inclusive spaces for trans and
LGBTQ BIPOC employees, and accountability
when content causes
harm, should be best practices for
Netfl ix.”
After the rally, transgender employees
who participated in the
company walkout planned to deliver
a letter to Netfl ix CEO Ted Sarandos,
who has faced criticism for
his role in maintaining the show
and punishing employees. The letter
was said to include demands
to make Netfl ix more inclusive of
trans and non-binary workers after
Netfl ix suspended and then reinstated
software engineer Terra
Field, who blasted the company
in a viral Tweet thread earlier this
month, and fi red a Black transgender
employee who is currently
pregnant and organized the latest
action at the company, the Verge
reported.
“Acknowledge the harm and Netfl
ix’s responsibility for this harm
from transphobic content, and in
particular harm to the Black trans
community; Add a disclaimer before
transphobic titles that specifi -
cally fl ag transphobic language,
misogyny, homophobia, hate
speech, etc. as required,” the letter
notes.
Sarandos was also recently
slammed by lesbian comedian
Hannah Gadsby after he referred
to her when defending Netfl ix.
“Hey Ted Sarandos!” Ms. Gadsby
wrote. “Just a quick note to
let you know that I would prefer if
you didn’t drag my name into your
mess. Now I have to deal with even
more of the hate and anger that
Dave Chappelle’s fans like to unleash
on me every time Dave gets
20 million dollars to process his
emotionally stunted partial world
view. You didn’t pay me nearly
enough to deal with the real world
consequences of the hate speech
dog whistling you refuse to acknowledge,
Ted.”
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