Celebs film video message to Netflix CEO ahead of Chappelle-releated walkout

Some famous names — including Jonathan Van Ness, “Arrow’s” Colton Haynes and Jameela Jamil of “The Good Place” — will reportedly appear in a video at a walkout protesting Netflix’s controversial new Dave Chappelle comedy special.
The celebrities will be featured in a PSA presented to Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos at a Wednesday rally in California organized by the company’s transgender employees and their supporters, Variety reported Monday.
The effort, which was originally announced last week, comes after Chappelle’s “The Closer” faced fierce backlash when it premiered earlier this month. In the stand-up special, Chappelle repeatedly mocked the transgender community and used crude terms to refer to a transgender person’s anatomy.
Activist Ashlee Marie Preston said Monday that Netflix employees planned on giving Sarandos “firm asks/demands” at what they’re dubbing the “Stand Up in Solidarity” walkout this week.
This Wednesday, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos will be presented with firm asks/demands from Netflix employees that we will also be sharing with members of the press & rally attendees. Cross-cultural solidarity is an indomitable force that moves all of us forward. Come and join us. pic.twitter.com/cZbZFLBEfG
— Ashlee Marie Preston (@AshleeMPreston) October 18, 2021
Organizers didn’t immediately respond to ITK’s request for comment.
Sarandos had defended “The Closer” in a pair of memos, reportedly writing in one, “While some employees disagree, we have a strong belief that content on screen doesn’t directly translate to real-world harm.”
A Netflix spokesperson told ITK last week in response to the walkout report, “We support artistic expression for our creators. We also encourage our employees to disagree openly.”
Netflix’s LGBTQ+ Twitter account tweeted amid the controversy that the “last couple of weeks have been hard.”
“We can’t always control what goes on screen,” the Most account, run by “queer and trans” Netflix employees, said. “What we can control is what we create here, and the POV we bring to internal conversations.”
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