Netflix has suspended three employees for attending an executive meeting they were not invited to, including a trans staffer who recently criticized the company’s \u2026<\/b>
\nNetflix has suspended three employees for attending an executive meeting they were not invited to, including a trans staffer who recently criticized the company’s new Dave Chappelle standup special called \u00ab\u00a0The Closer,\u00a0\u00bb The Verge and Variety reported on Monday. The trans employee, senior software engineer Terra Field, tweeted a thread on Wednesday that went viral in which she said that Chappelle \u00ab\u00a0attacks the trans community, and the very validity of transness \u2014 all while trying to pit us against other marginalized groups.\u00a0\u00bb In a statement, Netflix said the employees were not suspended because of anything they tweeted about the special. \u00ab\u00a0It is absolutely untrue to say that we have suspended any employees for tweeting about this show,\u00a0\u00bb a Netflix spokesperson said. \u00ab\u00a0Our employees are encouraged to disagree openly and we support their right to do so.\u00a0\u00bb Field did not return requests for an interview. During the meeting, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos took questions about how Netflix should address employees and talent being upset about Chappelle’s special, according to Variety. Sarandos then sent an internal memo to executives addressing concerns in which he said that Netflix would not be removing the special, The Verge and Variety reported. \u00ab\u00a0Chappelle is one of the most popular stand-up comedians today, and we have a long standing deal with him,\u00a0\u00bb Sarandos wrote, in part. \u00ab\u00a0His last special, ‘Sticks & Stones,’ also controversial, is our most watched, stickiest, and most award winning stand-up special to date. As with our other talent, we work hard to support their creative freedom \u2014 even though this means there will always be content on Netflix some people believe is harmful, like ‘Cuties,’ ‘365 Days,’ ’13 Reasons Why,’ or ‘My Unorthodox Life.'\u00a0\u00bb He added: \u00ab\u00a0Distinguishing between commentary and harm is hard, especially with stand-up comedy which exists to push boundaries. 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.\u00a0\u00bb Netflix declined to comment on the memo. Other Netflix employees also spoke out against the special on Twitter, as did Jaclyn Moore, who is trans and is an executive producer on Netflix’s \u00ab\u00a0Dear White People.\u00a0\u00bb Moore tweeted that she would \u00ab\u00a0not work with [Netflix] as long as they continue to put out and profit from blatantly and dangerously transphobic content.\u00a0\u00bb In the special, Chappelle said that \u00ab\u00a0gender is a fact\u00a0\u00bb and defended \u00ab\u00a0Harry Potter\u00a0\u00bb author JK Rowling, who has also come under fire for transphobic comments. For you For you<\/p>\n