Netflix Won't Censor Content Employees Find 'Harmful' in Wake of Dave Chappelle Backlash

Netflix is standing by its decision to stream content that employees may "perceive to be harmful" or "hard to support," the company said in a recently-revised culture memo to staff.

The memo, originally released in 2017, has been updated to include an "Artistic Expression" section about "provocative" content on the platform. "Not everyone will like — or agree with — everything on our service," it reads. "While every title is different, we approach them based on the same set of principles: we support the artistic expression of the creators we choose to work with; we program for a diversity of audiences and tastes; and we let viewers decide what’s appropriate for them, versus having Netflix censor specific artists or voices."

Netflix's update comes in the wake of the backlash against Dave Chappelle's 2021 standup special The Closer, which devoted a large amount of time to transphobic material, leading to protests and criticism from the LGBTQ community and many Netflix employees. Netflix employees organized a walkout over the special, and one employee was let go on suspicion of leaking internal data to Bloomberg News, the Verge reported in October.

In the memo, Netflix tells employees, "Depending on your role, you may need to work on titles you perceive to be harmful. If you’d find it hard to support our content breadth, Netflix may not be the best place for you." In the context of the Chappelle outrage, the memo essentially implies that employees must accept harmful transphobic content or leave the company.

Deena ElGenaidi's writing has been featured in Nylon, MTV News, Insider, The AV Club, and more. You can follow her on Twitter @deenaelg.