Netflix co-Ceo Ted Sarandos has doubled down on the streamer’s decision to stand by platforming Dave Chappelle amid the unfurling controversy over his latest special, The Closer.
“While some employees disagree, we have a strong belief that content on screen doesn’t directly translate to real-world harm,” Sarandos wrote in an internal memo shared to Netflix employees.
The Closer, which arrived on October 5th, has incited backlash from the LGBTQ community over a series of transphobic, homophobic, and quite frankly boring jokes made at the expense of the transgender community. There have been widespread calls on social media for Netflix to remove the special from its service.
Trans subjects have been a staple in the Dave Chappelle repertoire for years. In The Closer, the comedian brings his obsession with transness to the forefront. He jokes about being “tricked” into calling a trans woman beautiful, equates trans people to white people wearing blackface, and compares the genitalia of trans women to plant-based meat.
“Now, I am not saying that to say trans women aren’t women, I am just saying that those pussies that they got… you know what I mean? I’m not saying it’s not pussy,” he says in the special. “It’s Beyond Pussy or Impossible Pussy. It tastes like pussy, but that’s not quite what it is, is it? That’s not blood. That’s beet juice.”
Throughout the special, Chappelle jokingly labels himself “transphobic.” He also aligns himself with J.K. Rowling, who has previously come under fire for spreading transphobic rhetoric, saying that he was “Team TERF,” and “gender is a fact.”
In the days following the release of the special, LGBTQ organizations like GLAAD and The National Black Justice Coalition urged Netflix to take down the special. “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 wrote in a statement.
Love Comedians?
Get the latest Comedians news, features, updates and giveaways straight to your inbox Learn more
Netflix’s Ted Sarando maintains that content shown on screen does not have repercussions in real life, in a second internal memo addressing The Closer controversy, Sarando wrote:
“The strongest evidence to support this is that violence on screens has grown hugely over the last thirty years, especially with first party shooter games, and yet violent crime has fallen significantly in many countries,” Sarandos said. “Adults can watch violence, assault and abuse – or enjoy shocking stand-up comedy – without it causing them to harm others.”
Earlier this week, the Netflix CEO issued a statement committing not to pull the special, citing “creative freedom.”
“Chappelle is one of the most popular stand-up comedians today, and we have a long standing deal with him,” wrote Sarandos. “His last special Sticks & Stones, also controversial, is our most watched, stickiest, and most award winning stand-up special to date.
“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.”
In the wake of Netflix’s decision to stand by The Closer, several employees have planned to stage a virtual walkout on October 20th.
On Thursday, The Hollywood Reporter spoke to a Netflix employee who confirmed that the trans employee resource group at Netflix had organized support for a walkout, which will see employees stop working and focus their energy on providing support and resources for the trans community and affiliated charities.
For more on this topic, follow our Film & TV Observer.
