Netflix Employees Stage Walkout, Internet Divided Over Supporting Or Ridiculing It
Netflix has found itself in an increasingly difficult situation as employees stage a walkout protest similar to what happened at Activision-Blizzard recently.
The protest and walk-out centers around employee working conditions, comedian Dave Chappelle's stand-up finale still being on the platform, as well as transgender and PoC opportunities in general. While supported by celebrities such as Elliot Page, there was a clash of support and ridicule lobbied back and forth online among internet users.
#Netflix employees staged a walk out to protest #DaveChappelle But not this…. pic.twitter.com/XfIkFpQTFX
— Hello Franchise (@FranchiseLOS) October 20, 2021
The Netflix walkout consists of a bunch of white ppl protesting a black manAmazing
— Ahmed Al Asliken (@assliken) October 20, 2021
Do I think it's coincidence that netflix drops cool new cowboy bebop footage the day before their employees walk out to protest transphobia at netflix?No
— Calvin Wong Tze Loon 黃子倫 🇲🇾 (@ithayla) October 19, 2021
While some of the anti-protest group pointed towards Netflix's previous, inclusive works or the ineffectiveness of walkouts like this with a company of thousands of people across the globe, a particular thing was picked out to be the chief statement: other protests. Across America, there are other similar walkouts and protests happening, but according to analytics, Netflix's protest is the most viral one with the most eyes on it.
Netflix employees staging a walkout over Dave Chappelle are going to get more mainstream media attention than the hundreds of thousands of striking workers all across the country who are fighting for higher wages, better working conditions, and improved benefits. 🙃
— Jackson Hinkle (@jacksonhinklle) October 20, 2021
Just so we're clear… when Netflix employees walkout on the job because of a comedy special it's the top trending news on Twitter all day. But when airline pilots walkout on the job because they don't want to be forced to take a vaccine they don't want it's just the weather.
— Five Times August (@FiveTimesAugust) October 20, 2021
As expected, people also started making jokes about the whole situation at large, even as the list of demands was posted by someone who attended the protest and the debate ensued.
i participated in the walk-out at netflix today. here's netflix's trans ERG's list of demands – they're netflix specific, but some are basic things that all studios should follow, like hiring trans people (particularly POC) in leadership positions https://t.co/U4lhsdDinN
— Lake Fama (@LakeFama) October 20, 2021
My opinion on the Netflix walkout doesn’t matter because I would walk out over anything… if a coworker was like hey we’re walking out because the dun-dun sound is too male-coded I’d be like sure let’s go get Chipotle fuck these people
— Donald Ghouls 🧟♂️🎃 (@getfiscal) October 20, 2021
@netflix y’all hiring at Hollywood? I won’t walk out 😩 pic.twitter.com/RwPDrlSlw5
— Keekz 🐲 (@SenpaiKeekz) October 21, 2021
Also at the protest was a YouTuber and comedian named Vito Gesualdi, who showed up while waving a sign that said "We Like Dave." While he was at the protest, his sign was pulled down by some of the Netflix protestors and ripped apart, leaving him with a stick. Immediately, the same protestor who broke the sign accused Gesualdi of having a weapon as he was pushed back out of the crowd. A video was posted by him, which talks about the incident in question.
News of the protestors and counter-protestor duo started to spread, with the Associated Press among others reporting it one way that is currently being called into question by some online.
1/ This AP photo caption reads "Comedian and videographer Vito Gesualdi screams profanities as he engages with peaceful protesters begging him to leave." A damaging claim about @VitoGesualdi, circulated globally.It never happened. Join me on some basic photo-trutherism. pic.twitter.com/olZDOtuZTw
— Jesse Singal (@jessesingal) October 21, 2021
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Pööpen Färten
At this point I'm throwing garbage in the ocean so people can focus on actual problems
Zigzagoon
honestly just seems like they're co-opting a movement so they want to feel included. the fact that there was no protest over actual pedo bait but that there is because a comedian said something not very nice about trans people is REALLY telling
xoxin
netflix employees when they heard about cuties: I Sleep
netflix employees when they heard about dave chappelle's stand up: Real shit
Yeah, I can't take them seriously. Especially with how much these type of people will whip out the p-word when talking about anime.
Pokejoseph64
If they protested cuties being on, I would support them, but they aren’t
So I won’t
*Name censored*
He literally made a joke about jews and nobody's complaining about that. His humor has always been a bit… black.
Electric Dictator Bedebao
Wokism preaches that islam is the only religion that should be protected.
*Name censored*
How is that in any way related to my comment???
Electric Dictator Bedebao
I thought you meant to say that the netflix employees should've been outraged at the jew jokes.
KnowYourUsername
actual walkout over a comedy sketch but just a miserable hashtag over the literal pedo pandering movie that got nowhere
this generation's fucked, complaining about things has effectively become more important than any effort towards meaningful progress
Revic
"JOKES ARE FUNNY"
Counterpoint: Carlos Mencia.
Anon Anonson
Don't expect Netflix to yield, the expected demands effectively highjack the leadership & workplace freedom of Netflix. Spotify did nothing when their staff protested Rogan and it worked.
Labour strikes & shortages nationwide being denied news coverage is the real issue
Why My PeePee Hard
This energy could be put towards actual people who think Trans people are subhuman and think brainwashing is the answer, not funny peanut butter and crack sandwich man.
A Concerned Rifleman
But that defeats the point of armchair justice. Why work to solve the problem when you can pretend to solve it, get the same sense of satisfaction and still have the problem there to exploit for later?
KoimanZX
If only they actually paid attention to what Dave Chappelle said. His problem is with White LGBTQ+s who appropriate the struggles of racial minorities. The Oppression Olympics helps no one. I guess they dislike being told to check their privilege after telling others to do it.
A Concerned Rifleman
Maybe they took it to heart and decided to prove his point.