Culture Netflix Fires Director of Communications for ‘Descriptive Use of the N-Word’ - REEEEEEEEEEEEEE WHITEY!

Indiewire said:
After coming under fire for what Netflix CEO Reed Hastings referred to as “descriptive use of the N-word on at least two occasions,” Jonathan Friedlandis leaving his post as Executive Director of Communications. He announced his exit with two tweets: “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 continued, “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. I feel honored to have built a brilliant and diverse global team and to have been part of our collective adventure.”

Within the company, Friedland’s departure was announced via a memo from Sarandos that claimed Friedland’s “unacceptably low racial awareness and sensitivity” are “not in line with our values as a company”:

“All:

I’ve made a decision to let go of Jonathan Friedland. 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.

The first incident was several months ago in a PR meeting about sensitive words. Several people afterwards told him how inappropriate and hurtful his use of the N-word was, and Jonathan apologised to those that had been in the meeting. We hoped this was an awful anomaly never to be repeated.

Three months later he spoke to a meeting of our Black Employees @ Netflix group and did not bring it up, which was understood by many in the meeting to mean he didn’t care and didn’t accept accountability for his words.

The second incident, which I only heard about this week, was a few days after the first incident; this time Jonathan said the N-word again to two of our Black employees in HR who were trying to help him deal with the original offense. The second incident confirmed a deep lack of understanding, and convinced me to let Jonathan go now.

As I reflect on this, at this first incident, I should have done more to use it as a learning moment for everyone at Netflix about how painful and ugly that word is, and that it should not be used. I realize that my privilege has made me intellectualize or otherwise minimize race issues like this. I need to set a better example by learning and listening more so I can be the leader we need.

Depending on where you live or grew up in the world, understanding and sensitivities around the history and use of the N-word can vary. Debate on the use of the word is active around the world (example) as the use of it in popular media like music and film have created some confusion as to whether or not there is ever a time when the use of the N-word is acceptable. For non-Black people, the word should not be spoken as there is almost no context in which it is appropriate or constructive (even when singing a song or reading a script). There is not a way to neutralize the emotion and history behind the word in any context. The use of the phrase “N-word” was created as a euphemism, and the norm, with the intention of providing an acceptable replacement and moving people away from using the specific word. When a person violates this norm, it creates resentment, intense frustration, and great offense for many. Our show Dear White People covers some of this ground.

Going forward, we are going to find ways to educate and help our employees broadly understand the many difficult ways that race, nationality, gender identity and privilege play out in society and our organization. We seek to be great at inclusion, across many dimensions, and these incidents show we are uneven at best. We have already started to engage outside experts to help us learn faster.

Jonathan has been a great contributor and he built a diverse global team creating awareness for Netflix, strengthening our reputation around the world, and helping make us into the successful company we are today. Many of us have worked closely with Jonathan for a long time, and have mixed emotions. Unfortunately, his lack of judgment in this area was too big for him to remain. We care deeply about our employees feeling safe and supported at Netflix.

Much of this information will be in the press shortly. But any detail not in the press is confidential to employees.

-Reed”

Friedland joined Netflix as Vice President of Communications in 2011, rising to his current position a year later; he worked at Disney prior to that.
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http://www.indiewire.com/2018/06/jonathan-friedland-netflix-fired-n-word-1201977922/
 
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Sword Fighter Super said:
When will all this stupid shit reach a boiling point?

People make mistakes, people aren't perfect, but most importantly WHO FUCKING CARES?!
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Honestly, when they run out of each other to eat. Kinda like the drawing of lots after a ship wreck but a lot more purple hair.
 
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Three months later he spoke to a meeting of our Black Employees @ Netflix group and did not bring it up, which was understood by many in the meeting to mean he didn’t care and didn’t accept accountability for his words.

Are they saying they expected him to bring up the time he said "nigger" in front of a bunch of black people? Maybe he avoided the subject because it would have been, I don't know, deeply socially awkward!
 
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NotAKitty said:
Wait, so he didn’t even use it as a deliberate slur? Do these people get triggered by Huckleberry Finn or something?
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He wasn't slurring anyone, he just mentioned the existence of the word apparently

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.

Friedland apologized immediately when objections were raised on the first occasion, but the fact that he did it again "confirmed a deep lack of understanding, and convinced me to let Jonathan go," said Reed.

So he was just discussing the concept of offensive words, which offended people.
 
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Three months later he spoke to a meeting of our Black Employees @ Netflix group and did not bring it up, which was understood by many in the meeting to mean he didn’t care and didn’t accept accountability for his words.
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How fucking DARE YOU not constantly whip your own back with a FUCKING SCOURGE over something you were supposed to talk about you FUCKING non-RACIST!

We care deeply about our employees feeling safe and supported at Netflix.
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So he said the word once in a meeting where he was telling people what words not to use. Strike 1.
He gets called into HR, who asks him what word he used, and he says it. Strike 2.
3 months later he has a meeting with black employees and doesn't bring up the word he used. Strike 3.

I think someone just really wanted to get rid of this guy.
 
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