Posted on 06/23/2018 9:52:25 AM PDT by Simon Green
Netflix sacked its chief spokesman Jonathan Friedland, he revealed on Friday, after he used the N-word twice in the space of a few days during meetings with staff.
The head of communications announced his departure after being upbraided for a second time for using the racial slur, which is controversial for its ubiquity in hip-hop culture and completely taboo in almost every other context.
"I'm leaving Netflix after seven years. Leaders have to be beyond reproach in the example we set and unfortunately I fell short of that standard when I was insensitive in speaking to my team about words that offend in comedy," he tweeted.
"I feel awful about the distress this lapse caused to people at a company I love and where I want everyone to feel included and appreciated."
Former journalist Friedland -- not to be confused with Jonathan Freedland, a prominent columnist at the London-based Guardian newspaper -- had served in communications roles for Disney.
Before working in communications he spent 10 years at the Wall Street Journal.
Netflix wasn't immediately available for comment but Variety magazine reproduced in full what it said was a memo from CEO Reed Hastings sent to all staff on Friday.
"Jonathan contributed greatly in many areas, but his descriptive use of the N-word on at least two occasions at work showed unacceptably low racial awareness and sensitivity, and is not in line with our values as a company," he said.
Hastings said the first incident occurred "several months ago" in a meeting about sensitive words and again a few days later to two black human resources employees as he was discussing the original transgression.
(Excerpt) Read more at yahoo.com ...
He said “Netflix” and got fired?
Talking about his new boss, Obama? Not smart.
It’s a good thing Netflix doesn’t have any “comedy” specials that are offensive. /s
Well their comedy series seem to be F-words on parade.
I wonder how many times the n-word is said on Netflix over the course of a month?
Oh, wait...it's all right. The people saying it have the right color of skin.
Typical liberal white guy, former employee of a liberal rag, and now former employee of a liberal media company.
When you read this story it sounds really crazy. Seems like they were having a meeting about”sensitive words” and he used it in that context and then again in talking about the fact that he’d used it in that context. It’s like a white person is not allowed to utter it in any context even in talking about it.
Mind you, the man wasn't using the word, it was part of a list of objectionable words which was under discussion.
This reminds me of the story of the scorpion and the frog.
Didn’t he just say “this is a word that can’t be used” and used it in that quoted context? A bit ridiculous. The word is used all the time in Netflix movies. Straight Outa Compton etc. I just saw the Johnny Cochran character use the word in the OJ series ON NETFLIX.
Nogoodnik
So Netflix hires racists. Good to know.
Netflix also hired Susan Rice to serve on their board of directors and gave a multimillion dollar contract to the Obamas to develop programming. None of these people I just mentioned have any experience in the TV, entertainment, or digital industries.
What the hell kind of company IS Netflix anyway?
He should have just used the F-word repeatedly, and they would have given him his own Netflix show.
Cancelled Netflix two days ago.
That certainly seems to be the case.
I wonder if he “offended” Susan Rice. She’s on their Board.
Which N-word? Niggardly? Negro? Negra? Niger? Nigger?
I guess a C-word would have been OK.
Honky Please, stop groveling.
Jeeze I miss Carlin.
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