Streaming giant Netflix is in the midst of a hot controversy after airing a Dave Chappelle special that pokes fun at the transgender community. Titled The Closer, the said comedy special featured several jokes from the stand-up comic aimed towards transgenders. The special allegedly poses a huge threat not only to transgenders but to the entire LGBTQ+ community as a whole.
When the issue blew up, Netflix quickly came to Chappelle's defense and maintained that they're keeping the controversial special in their library as it did not cross "the line on hate". Unsurprisingly, this ultimately led to the company's LGBTQ+ employees taking a stand and forming #NetflixWalkout, a movement that is gaining a lot of traction on social media.
Several actors have since supported the brigade, most notably The Umbrella Academy star Elliot Page who recently took to his own social media platform to call out the streaming service. In a tweet, the former X-Men actor said that he "stands with the trans, nonbinary, and BIPOC employees at Netflix fighting for more and better trans stories and a more inclusive workplace."
Also Read: Fans are Gushing Over Elliot Page's Stunning Physical Transformation
Following the protest, Netflix said that it will not reprimand or terminate the employees who joined the movement simply because the company respects their respective opinions. This is despite several accusations from Netflix employees claiming they were suspended for criticizing Chappelle's special.
Of course, Netflix's decision to keep the special on its library only makes the company look bad and considering how more and more people are calling them out, they better do something to avoid an even bigger disaster.
Meanwhile, The Umbrella Academy Season 3 is expected to hit Netflix in 2022.
Explore new topics and discover content that's right for you!
Netflix