Netflix CEO Says He 'Screwed Up' Response to Employee Anger Over Dave Chappelle Special Employees are planning a walkout for Wednesday.

By Entrepreneur Staff

Karwai Tang | Getty Images

Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos said he "screwed up" communicating with his staff after they expressed displeasure with Dave Chappelle's new streaming comedy special, The Closer. Employees are planning a walkout for Wednesday.

"Obviously, I screwed up that internal communication," he told Variety. "First and foremost, I should have led with a lot more humanity. Meaning, I had a group of employees who were definitely feeling pain and hurt from a decision we made. And I think that needs to be acknowledged up front before you get into the nuts and bolts of anything."

Related: Virginia Hotel Says No to Event With Pharrell Williams, Dave Chappelle

Chappelle's newest special has been criticized for its numerous jokes about transgender individuals and the LGBTQ+ community. Advocates have called the special transphobic, but Sarandos told his employees when the backlash began that the company would never platform programs "that are designed to incite hate or violence, and we don't believe The Closer crosses that line."

In a different interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he stood by his original statement, saying his "stance hasn't changed."

"We do tell our employees upfront that we are trying to entertain our members, and that some of the content on Netflix you're not going to like," he said.

Per Sarandos, the streaming giant is "deeply committed" both to "inclusion" and "supporting artistic freedom with the creators who work at Netflix."

Wavy Line
Entrepreneur Staff

Entrepreneur Staff

Editor

Editor's Pick

'Catastrophic': Here's What You Should Know About the Debt Ceiling Crisis — And How a Default Could Impact Your Business
Lock
I Helped Grow 4 Unicorns Over 10 Years That Generated $18 Billion in Online Revenues. Here's What I've Learned.
Lock
Want to Break Bad Habits and Supercharge Your Business? Use This Technique.
Lock
Don't Have Any Clients But Need Customer Testimonials? Follow These 3 Tricks To Boost Your Rep.
Why Are Some Wines More Expensive Than Others? A Top Winemaker Gives a Full-Bodied Explanation.

Related Topics

Leadership

The Real Reason Why The Return to Office Movement is Failing is Revealed in New Study

There is a vivid sign of the disconnect between employees and their workplace, a glaring indication that companies need to revise their scripts to improve their hybrid and remote work policies.

Legal

'That '70s Show' Star Convicted on Two Counts of Rape. He 'Drugged' His Victims.

Danny Masterson was accused of forcibly raping three women at different times between 2001 and 2003. The jury reached a verdict on two counts but was deadlocked on the third.

Business News

The World's Richest Man Just Surpassed a $200 Billion Fortune

Bernard Arnault is just the third man in history to reach this landmark.

Money & Finance

3 Ways to Create Multiple (Big) Streams of Income

Here are three ways to create multiple streams of income. These strategies require effort and resources but offer significant financial potential.

Business News

Raccoon Adorably Orders A Donut From Dunkin' Drive Thru: 'Little Gentleman'

The hilarious clip has garnered over 21.3 million views on TikTok.

Business News

7 of the 10 Most Expensive Cities to Live in the U.S. Are in One State

A new report by U.S. News found that San Diego is the most expensive city to live in for 2023-2024, followed by Los Angeles. New York City didn't even rank in the top 10.