Elon Musk commended Netflix's new culture policy, which states that it may not be the best place for employees who are unable to work on content that they disagree with or find detrimental.
"Good move by @netflix," Musk tweeted in response to a tweet announcing the new policy.
Good move by @netflix
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 15, 2022
So what exactly is Netflix's new culture policy?
Netflix Chooses 'Artistic Expression' Over Woke Culture
As previously reported, the streaming behemoth is said to have issued a memo to its unhappy employees, emphasizing that the company valued its content creators' "artistic expression" over individual employee's personal ideas, beliefs, and lifestyles.
Titled "Netflix Culture - Seeking Excellence, the company's memo said, "As employees we support the principle that Netflix offers a diversity of stories, even if we find some titles counter to our own personal values. Depending on your role, you may need to work on titles you perceive to be harmful. If you'd find it hard to support our content breadth, Netflix may not be the best place for you."
Netflix stated in the memo's "Artistic Expression" section that it is difficult to entertain the entire world since individuals have such various preferences and opinions. But, while its content may be upsetting to certain viewers, it has promised not to silence its artists' voices.
What Happened to Netflix Before It Issued the Memo?
The woke mind virus is making Netflix unwatchable
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 20, 2022
It should be noted that Musk tweeted last month, "The woke mind virus is making Netflix unwatchable," though it is unclear what content the Tesla and SpaceX billionaire was alluding to.
Business Insider pointed out that since announcing last month that he will acquire Twitter for $44 billion and turn it into a sanctuary for free speech, Musk's ideas on content moderation have come under heightened scrutiny.
Anyway, let's talk about what Musk means by "woke mind virus."
According to our previous report (via Variety), Netflix has been embroiled in controversy since Dave Chappelle's comedy special 'The Closer' debuted on Oct. 5, with employees and artists openly denouncing Chappelle for comments and jokes they deemed transphobic and homophobic.
As a result, hundreds of Netflix employees and supporters protested at the company's Los Angeles headquarters in the same month.
Meanwhile, according to a different Variety report, Chappelle addresses the controversy surrounding his Netflix special in a stand-up video, claiming that he had received support from members of the LGBTQ+ community and the issue emanated from commercial interests.
"I want everyone in this audience to know that even though the media frames it that it's me versus that community, that is not what it is," he said. "This has nothing to do with them. It's about corporate interests and what I can say and what I cannot say."
He added that he's willing to meet with transgender Netflix employees or other members of the trans community, but he won't give in to "anybody's demands."
