B. Pagels-Minor and Terra Field, two Netflix employees who protested Dave Chappelle comedy special "The Closer" for its transphobic content, have filed unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board, according to The Verge. The workers are alleging Netflix retaliated against them for participating in protected activity.
The two workers have stood out as leaders in opposition to Chappelle's special. Pagels-Minor, a Black trans program manager, was fired on suspicion of leaking confidential company information to the press, allegations they have rejected. Field was suspended but later reinstated after tweeting about the controversy.
The employees say Netflix took action against workers to stop them from speaking up. "Rights exist to be exercised and defended, and nobody will silence me in my defense of myself, my coworkers, or my community," Field tweeted Friday.
The complaints build on pressure from Netflix employees on the company. Earlier this month, workers staged a walkout over the special. Around the same time, they released a set of demands that call for more investment in trans-affirming content and disclaimers and labels on transphobic content, among other demands.
A Netflix spokesperson did not immediately return a request for comment. The company's CEO, Ted Sarandos, has stood by Chappelle's special but has walked back comments that "content on screen doesn't directly translate to real-world harm."
Note: Protocol is owned by Axel Springer, whose chairman and CEO, Mathias Döpfner, sits on the board of Netflix.
Climate TRACE's data show emissions at the facility-level.Image: Climate TRACE