Netflix suspends trans employee over Dave Chappelle furore

Controversy over a top comic’s new stand-up special led to a behind-the-scenes move from Netflix its critics have dubbed “just lousy.”

A transgender Netflix employee, who virally tweeted in opposition of a new Dave Chappelle comedy special on the service, has allegedly been suspended from work, according to the Verge.

The Closer, the latest from Chapelle, 48, takes many jabs at the transgender community and sees the comic make insinuating remarks supporting 29-year-old rapper DaBaby’s homophobic tirade, which went viral earlier this year.

Senior Netflix software engineer Terra Field spoke out publicly following the October 5 release, reported New York Post.

“We launched another Chappelle special where he attacks the trans community, and the very validity of transness — all while trying to pit us against other marginalised groups,” with which Field began a Twitter thread of criticisms last week.

I work at @netflix. Yesterday we launched another Chappelle special where he attacks the trans community, and the very validity of transness - all while trying to pit us against other marginalized groups. You're going to hear a lot of talk about "offense".

We are not offended 🧵

— Terra Field (@RainofTerra) October 7, 2021

Field was then reportedly suspended from Netflix “for trying to attend a meeting she wasn’t invited to,” according to the Verge.

According to Variety, two other employees were also suspended for the same action.

Netflix told Variety, “It is absolutely untrue to say that we have suspended any employees for tweeting about this show. Our employees are encouraged to disagree openly and we support their right to do so.”

Verge also reported another trans employee is said to be quitting the streaming service over “how the special — and Field’s comments — were handled.”

Neflix has copped criticism online today for their handling of the issue, with writer Roxane Gay tweeting that it is “just lousy. If Chapelle gets free speech to air his noxious ideas, certainly an employee who is directly affected gets that same right.”

“So the only person who was actually “cancelled” in all of this was the individual who simply spoke up to reaffirm their humanity and the humanity of others. Interesting,” said another person in a tweet that was shared thousands of times.

Dave Chappelle has come under criticism for his anti-trans comments in his Netflix comedy special. Picture: Alex Edelman / AFP

“Dave Chappelle screaming on stage “I‘ve been canceled, I’ve been canceled” while he’s paid millions of dollars, meanwhile...” read another widely-shared tweet.

“Powerful and chilling report that underlines how ‘cancel culture’ panic at large is about people with massive platforms being able to face zero consequences while those who dare speak out / challenge it are the ones who face the most difficulty. What a mess,” tweeted writer Conor Behan.

Among Field’s critiques of Chappelle was his support of Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling and her coined phrase TERF (trans-exclusionary radical feminist).

“Promoting TERF ideology (which is what we did by giving it a platform yesterday) directly harms trans people, it is not some neutral act. This is not an argument with two sides. It is an argument with trans people who want to be alive and people who don’t want us to be,” Field tweeted, continuing on to list out trans people who were violently killed recently.

Netflix co-chief executive Ted Sarandos also addressed the Chappelle controversy, standing by the comedian in an October 8 memo obtained by the Verge, one where he also warned employees to brace for a storm of bad publicity.

“You should also be aware that some talent may join third parties in asking us to remove the show in the coming days, which we are not going to do,” Sarandos wrote.

“Chappelle is one of the most popular stand-up comedians today, and we have a long-standing deal with him.”

Sarandos continued his email, addressing “where we draw the line on hate.

“We don’t allow titles on Netflix that are designed to incite hate or violence, and we don’t believe The Closer crosses that line … Some people find the art of stand-up to be mean-spirited but our members enjoy it, and it’s an important part of our content offering.”

Chappelle has also come out in response to the sharp criticism, saying, “If this is what being cancelled is about, I love it.”

Dave Chappelle supported JK Rowling’s controversial comments on gender in his special. Picture: Justin Tallis / AFP

Among others to criticise Chappelle’s special is Jaclyn Moore, a trans writer and co-showrunner on Netflix’s Dear White People.

Moore said she will no longer work with Netflix because of The Closer’s “blatantly and dangerously transphobic content”.

Moore told The Hollywood Reporter, “[Chappelle] says, ‘Please stop punching down.’ I don’t know in what world trans women control the universe because from where I’m sitting, Dave Chappelle has all the specials, all the money, all the things. I just want my friends to not get killed.”

Since the alleged suspension, Field has also been active on Twitter, thanking a supportive following for standing by her throughout the turbulent time.

“Someone I chatted with on Grindr years ago just messaged me to tell me they’re proud of me for standing up for myself. True allyship right there,” Field wrote.

This article originally appeared on The New York Post and was reproduced here with permission