Before the last Netflix special from comedian Dave Chappelle aired, many knew since it was going to be his last – he wasn’t going to hold anything back. If you have seen it, you know that Chappelle did just that. From the opening seconds to the credits, the comedian gives a hard look at America now and where it is heading. Being a comedian, he also poked fun along the way, but that is where Chappelle has drawn backlash due to his comments about the LGBTQ community. And while the Netflix CEO stood by Chappelle, he has since retracted his statement claiming he “screwed up”. 

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On Tuesday, Ted Sarandos sat down with the Wall Street Journal and admitted he had been wrong. “What I should have led within those emails was humanity. I should have recognized the fact that a group of our employees was really hurting.” Sarandos was sure to add that the streaming platform was “firmly committed to continuing to support artistic freedom for the creators who work with Netflix and increase representation behind the screen and on camera.” 

While Sarandos might be sorry for how he approached the situation, “The Closer” is NOT being taken off of Netflix. “We have articulated to our employees that there are going to be things you don’t like. There are going to be things that you might feel are harmful. But we are trying to entertain a world with varying tastes and varying sensibilities and various beliefs, and I think this special was consistent with that.” 

As for the employees who were offended, of course, they had a list of demands. “We want the company to adopt measures in the areas of content investment, employee relations and safety, and harm reduction, all of which are necessary to avoid future instances of platforming transphobia and hate speech.” The group also wanted more tans and non-binary people in executive positions. 

But while they protest and scream victim, Sarandos couldn’t help but reveal some truth about Dave Chappelle. “Chapelle is one of the most popular stand-up comedians today, and we have a long-standing deal with him. His last special, “Sticks & Stones,” also controversial, is our most-watched, stickiest, and most award-winning stand-up special to date.”

This piece was written by Jeremy Porter on October 21, 2021. It originally appeared in RedVoiceMedia.com and is used by permission.

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