Hannah Gadsby signs multi-title comedy deal with 'amoral algorithm cult' Netflix

The Emmy-winning Tasmanian comedian will bring her Body of Work special to the streaming service. 

The Emmy-winning Tasmanian comedian will bring her Body of Work special to the streaming service. 

"F**k you and your amoral algorithm cult," Hannah Gadsby did not mince words when she wrote to Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos in an Instagram post in October last year. 

The Tasmanian comic has now signed a multi-title deal with the streaming giant, which includes her third hour-long special, and a new multi-comic special featuring an international cast of comedians.” No hard feelings, I guess. 

The Hannah Gadsby/Netflix spat was sparked by Dave Chapelle's comedy special, The Closer, and a company-wide staff memo that addressed escalating concerns over the veteran comedians' anti-trans jokes.

On October 13, Sarandos evoked Gadsby's name as a defence of Chapelle and Netflix, writing, "Adults can watch violence, assault and abuse — or enjoy shocking stand-up comedy — without it causing them to harm others.

"We are working hard to ensure marginalised communities aren’t defined by a single story. So we have Sex Education, Orange Is the New Black, Control Z, Hannah Gadsby and Dave Chappelle all on Netflix.”

Gadsby responded with a note shared on Instagram on October 15, writing, "I would prefer if you didn’t drag my name into your mess. Now I have to deal with even more of the hate and anger that Dave Chappelle’s fans like to unleash on me every time Dave gets 20 million dollars to process his emotionally stunted partial world view."

“You didn’t pay me nearly enough to deal with the real world consequences of the hate speech dog whistling you refuse to acknowledge, Ted.

"F**k you and your amoral algorithm cult … I do shits with more back bone than you." 

Netflix released Gadsby's two comedy specials: 2018's Nanette, which catapulted her to global fame, and won the Emmy for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Special, and its follow-up, 2020's Douglas. 

The new special will be recorded on the Australian leg of the comedian's Body of Work Tour, set to take place at Sydney Opera House on September 28-29. 

“In an effort to further open a door that I had to fight to get through myself, I will curate and host a lineup show on Netflix featuring six new gender-diverse comedians,” Gadsby in a quote addressing the deal.

Hannah Gadsby's 'Body of Work'.

“In a notoriously transphobic industry, I am looking to broaden the scope of opportunities for genderqueer performers from around the globe as well as expand the diversity of offerings to audiences on one of comedy’s biggest platforms."