The Closer was not, in fact, the closer. Netflix co-CEO Reed Hastings has expressed that the streaming giant would work with known transphobe Dave Chappelle "again and again."
It's been just over a year since the comedian's Netflix special — which saw him defend J.K. Rowling and call himself a TERF — hit the internet, but it feels like we've been living in its wake for ages. Despite widespread backlash (which resulted in Chappelle being attacked onstage) and a walkout by its trans employee resource group, Netflix was steadfast in its refusal to remove The Closer — which was also somehow nominated for an Emmy this year — from its catalogue.
With Caitlyn Jenner and JAY-Z among his defenders, the comedian has been able to advance his hate-mongering platform, even hosting Saturday Night Live last month.
When asked about the controversy at The New York Times' DealBook summit yesterday (November 30), Hastings said The Closer was "one of the most entertaining specials we've ever had," as per The Verge. "We would do it again and again."
"We're just trying to be the most exciting entertainment company and more," the co-CEO explained, adding that Chappelle's "very entertaining and provocative" special aligned with Netflix's overarching goal of being "about entertainment."
There's certainly an alignment among the heads of the streaming service, with co-CEO Ted Sarandos defending Ricky Gervais's transphobic comedy special earlier this year after having previously admitted that he "screwed up" by defending Chappelle.
It's been just over a year since the comedian's Netflix special — which saw him defend J.K. Rowling and call himself a TERF — hit the internet, but it feels like we've been living in its wake for ages. Despite widespread backlash (which resulted in Chappelle being attacked onstage) and a walkout by its trans employee resource group, Netflix was steadfast in its refusal to remove The Closer — which was also somehow nominated for an Emmy this year — from its catalogue.
With Caitlyn Jenner and JAY-Z among his defenders, the comedian has been able to advance his hate-mongering platform, even hosting Saturday Night Live last month.
When asked about the controversy at The New York Times' DealBook summit yesterday (November 30), Hastings said The Closer was "one of the most entertaining specials we've ever had," as per The Verge. "We would do it again and again."
"We're just trying to be the most exciting entertainment company and more," the co-CEO explained, adding that Chappelle's "very entertaining and provocative" special aligned with Netflix's overarching goal of being "about entertainment."
There's certainly an alignment among the heads of the streaming service, with co-CEO Ted Sarandos defending Ricky Gervais's transphobic comedy special earlier this year after having previously admitted that he "screwed up" by defending Chappelle.
