Netflix Staff Member Resigns After Orchestrating Dave Chappelle Controversy Protests
In a nod to a contentious chapter, Terra Field, an openly trans and queer Netflix employee, has bid adieu to the streaming giant, following a storm of controversy over Dave Chappelle's controversial stand-up special. In a matter-of-fact tweet, she expressed that despite her disappointment, she's confident this move serves the best for all parties.
Her resignation, announced on Nov 21, was highlighted in an open letter on Medium. The resignation was partially driven by the termination of B. Pagels-Minor, another leading voice in Netflix’s transgender employee resource group, who had been expecting a baby at the time of her layoff. Netflix had initially claimed her dismissal was due to the sharing of 'confidential, commercially sensitive information outside the company', but Pagels-Minor flatly denied these accusations in an interview.
Field showed solidarity with her fellow organizer in her Medium post, highlighting Pagels-Minor's termination as a key factor in her decision. "Side by side with B., who had stood by us so many times while leading the Trans* ERG, I made the decision: sink or swim," she wrote.
The turmoil at Netflix commenced with several comments in Chappelle's latest special, The Closer, deemed by many as homophobic and transphobic. Initially sparking disgruntlement from a few employees, it quickly escalated into a full-blown revolt as Netflix made a series of missteps in handling the backlash.
The platform first ignited fury within the LGBTQ+ community by suspending three employees, including Field, for crashing an executive meeting addressing Chappelle's special. The backlash intensified with the firing of Pagels-Minor, after which all three suspended employees were eventually reinstated. Further fueling the fire, Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos made a questionable move to double down on his defense of Chappelle's anti-trans sentiments.
Though Sarandos eventually retracted the statement and apologized for an insensitive response, employees staged a work stoppage on Oct 20 to offer support and resources to the trans community and related charities. Netflix's leadership has since gone silent, leaving employees to grapple with the enduring impacts of the PR debacle.
- Terra Field's resignation, announced on November 21, was influenced by the termination of B. Pagels-Minor, another transgender employee, who was expecting a baby at the time of her layoff.
- In her Medium post, Field showed solidarity with Pagels-Minor, highlighting her termination as a key factor in her decision to leave Netflix.
- The storm of controversy over Dave Chappelle's controversial stand-up special on Netflix was partially responsible for the turmoil at the platform.
- The firing of B. Pagels-Minor, and the subsequent suspension and reinstatement of several employees, including Terra Field, intensified the backlash from the LGBTQ+ community.
