Dave Chappelle Promotes Netflix Walkout Special; ‘Trans lives matter’

About 100 folks attended the pre-noon rally on the Netflix office-studio complicated, most in favor of the streaming big’s estimated 30 staff who joined later. Some had been keen to establish themselves as staff of Netflix, however all declined to be named.

Joy Soloway, creator of the Emmy-winning comedy Transparent, was among the many audio system on the rally.

“Chapel’s decision to share his displeasure in the form of a humorous insult in front of thousands of people and then broadcast it to hundreds of millions of people infinitely escalates gender violence,” he mentioned.

People protest exterior the Netflix Building on Vine Street within the Hollywood part of Los Angeles on Wednesday, October 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Damien Dovergens)

“I want trans representation on the Netflix board, this (without) week,” the writer-director mentioned.

Ashley Marie Preston, an activist and occasion organizer, addressed the rally and later spoke to the Associated Press. She mentioned calling out Chappell for his remarks was not sufficient.

“It was important to focus on people signing checks, because Dave Chappelle doesn’t sign checks, Netflix does,” Preston mentioned. “If we have companies like Netflix that aren’t listening to their employees, who are forcing their employees to participate in their harassment, that’s unacceptable.”

“We’re here to hold people accountable. We’re not going anywhere,” she mentioned, including that efforts are underway to begin talks with Netflix executives.

There had been moments of shuffling and shoving between the competing protesters, however the battle was largely confined to a confrontation.

Leia Figueroa, a Los Angeles pupil who does not work at Netflix, mentioned she desires to assist Walkout. While the streaming service gives optimistic fare for the LGBTQ neighborhood, she mentioned, it is going each methods by providing a present like Chappelle’s that features derogatory feedback about trans girls.

If Netflix “wants to be a political platform they have to be that,” Figueroa mentioned. “But they’re saying things like ‘black lives matter’ and ‘we don’t stand for transphobia’.” If you say issues like that, you are going to need to verify all of your stuff to verify it displays your values.”

Members of Team Trans protest exterior the Netflix constructing on Vine Street within the Hollywood part of Los Angeles on Wednesday, October 20, 2021. (AP picture/Damien Dovergens)

As she was talking, one protester shouted, “We love jokes.”

“I love funny jokes, and transphobia is no joke,” replied Figueroa.

A former journalist, Belissa Cohen, mentioned she was available for “supporting Netflix’s decision to not support it”.

“We want to show that when it comes to Netflix audiences, there is no unanimous support for transgender ideology,” Cohen mentioned.

She was amongst a couple of dozen individuals who held placards studying “Free speech is a right” and “Truth is not transphobic”. Opposite them had been indicators that included “Black Trans Lives Matter” and “Transphobia Is Not Funny”.

Elliot Page, who stars and is transgender on Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy, tweeted that he stands with trans, nonbinary and other people of coloration working at Netflix, which is “more and better trans stories and more inclusive workplaces.” combating for.”

I stand with the trans, nonbinary and BIPOC staff at Netflix combating for extra and higher trans tales and a extra inclusive office. #netflixwalkout https://t.co/LU8FPSBdwE

— Elliot Page (@TheElliotPage) October 20, 2021

Team Trans (asterisk), which identifies itself as supporting “trans people working at Netflix trying to make a better world for our community,” referred to as it trans and non-activists and allies. Said a listing of “enquiries” being made by Netflix. firm.

They are calling on the corporate to “repair” its relationship with staff and audiences, together with hiring trans executives and rising spending on trans and nonbinary creators and initiatives.

“Reduction in harm” is one other demand, which incorporates acceptance of Netflix’s “responsibility for this harm from transphobic content, and in particular for the harm caused to the black trans community,” based on the checklist.

It additionally referred to as for the disclaimer to flag content material that comprises “transphobic language, misogyny, homophobia” and hate speech.

In a press release, media watchdog group GLAAD mentioned it salutes Netflix staff, associates and LGBTQ and Black advocates for “calling for accountability and change within Netflix and in the entertainment industry.”

Equally walkout workers cited GLAAD statements to journalists.

How Netflix responded to staff’ issues with not solely the particular, however an inside memo that co-CEO Ted Sarandos claimed that “content on screen doesn’t directly translate to real-world harm.”

Sarandos additionally wrote that Netflix doesn’t enable titles which might be “designed to incite hatred or violence, and we do not believe ‘The Closer’ crosses that line.”

In interviews on Tuesday, Sarandos mentioned he failed to acknowledge that “a group of our employees were really hurt,” as he advised The Wall Street Journal, and that his feedback about TV’s affect on viewers had been a There was oversimplification.

Tera Fields, who identifies herself on Twitter as a senior software program engineer at Netflix and as trans, posted important tweets shortly after Chappelle’s particular aired and the feedback had been extensively shared.

In her publish, Fields mentioned that the comedian was being criticized not as a result of her remarks had been offensive, however due to the hurt it causes to the trans neighborhood, significantly black girls. Fields included a listing of trans and nonbinary women and men of coloration who he mentioned had been killed, including in every case that the sufferer was “not offended.”