Thread by @Lucas_Shaw

This Dave Chappelle special has caused the greatest worker uproar inside Netflix I can remember. Here is a story about the tension between the streaming giant and its workers.

bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

Some news: Netflix employees raised several red flags with the special ahead of its release. Ted Sarandos and Bela Bajaria decided to release it as is.

Members of Netflix's black and trans employee groups met with Netflix leadership after Chappelle's previous special (Sticks & Stones) to discuss the transphobic remarks.

They agreed they would be more careful in the future. So this special has employees *Very upset*

Netflix employees have asked leaders dozens of questions on an internal messaged board about the special. Here is what Reed Hastings said in response:

I have obtained internal documents disclosing the cost and financial performance of several Netflix shows.

The Dave Chappelle special cost $24.1M. "Sticks & Stones" cost $23.6M. Both of those specials cost more than an entire season of Squid Game.

The special generated about $19M in value. It is less efficient (0.8x) than Bo Burnham.

Both figures would suggest it lost money. But that is not how Netflix calculates. (Netflix says Chappelle's specials are its most watched specials.)

Netflix trans employees plan to stage a walkout next week, as first reported by @ZoeSchiffer.

The company will also host activist Alok Vaid-Menon next week.

Netflix employees basically never speak out of turn or share internal documents. That they chose to in this case speaks to the frustration felt by many of them.

bloomberg.com/news/articles/…