Netflix Issues Statement on Trans Employee Walkout Protesting Dave Chappelle's Special

Netflix is making a statement

Variety reports that on Wednesday (October 20), hundreds of employees at the streamer plan to stage a walkout to protest the company’s response to the controversy surrounding the anti-trans statements comedian Dave Chappelle made in his latest special.

Netflix addressed the walkout in a statement released the same day.

Click inside to read what the company said…

“We value our trans colleagues and allies, and understand the deep hurt that’s been caused,” the company wrote. “We respect the decision of any employee who chooses to walk out, and recognize we have much more work to do both within Netflix and in our content.”

According to Deadline, organizers of the walkout say they will present a list of “firm asks” to company co-CEO and chief content officer Ted Sarandos and are collaborating with Queer Eye‘s Jonathan Van Ness, upcoming She-Hulk star Jameela Jamil, Sara Ramirez, Angelica Ross, TS Madison, Eureka O’Hara and Colton Haynes on a public service announcement.

The streamer’s statement comes after Ted Sarandos acknowledged that the initial reaction to the controversy internally at the company had been misguided.

“I screwed up that internal communication. I did that, and I screwed it up in two ways,” he said. “First and foremost, I should have led with a lot more humanity. Meaning, I had a group of employees who were definitely feeling pain and hurt from a decision we made. And I think that needs to be acknowledged up front before you get into the nuts and bolts of anything. I didn’t do that.”

Last week, another comedian who has worked with Netflix in the past called out Ted for his response to the backlash.