Turbulent weeks on Netflix
Between the “Squid Game” hype and the Chappelle scandal
With “Squid Game” (left) Netflix had a huge success, but Dave Chappelle’s “The Closer” received heavy criticism.
© YOUNGKYU PARK / Mathieu Bitton / Netflix
Netflix knows how to inspire with the series “Squid Game”, but there has been heavy criticism for Dave Chappelle’s stand-up program.
The decision-makers at the streaming provider Netflix are now discovering how close together praise and criticism can be. In the past few weeks, on the one hand, they rushed to the greatest success in the company’s history, but on the other hand they also got caught up in a major scandal that still drives people onto the streets with “Hateflix” signs.
The “Squid Game” miracle
The South Korean series “Squid Game” quickly became the most streamed format on Netflix. It proves once again impressively that productions outside the US mainstream can inspire a mainstream audience. Similar to the French “Lupine” or the Spanish “House of Money”.
These examples show that courage is rewarded. These successes send an important signal to series and filmmakers around the world, who sometimes simply lacked the platform for a breakthrough. Last but not least, it brings the audience innovative stories into the living room – international understanding as evening entertainment, if you will.
The “The Closer” debacle
This is countered by the comedy special “The Closer” by US star Dave Chappelle (48). Thanks to the “Chappelle’s Show”, you can also know in Germany that the comedian has devoted himself to coarse humor. But this was definitely known at Netflix, where reports say “The Closer” was finally published despite vehement protests from its own workforce.
That, too, can be called brave from the most benevolent perspective. After all, this should preserve “artistic freedom”, explained program director Ted Sarandos (57). Instead of giving a platform to a minority with this decision, the exact opposite is the case, the allegations are.
Above all, but not only, the LGBTQ community fears that Chappelle’s jokes could contribute to transgender people becoming victims of violent crimes. Netflix therefore becomes “Hateflix” on the signs of activists in front of the company’s headquarters in Los Angeles. This fear was also discussed internally, but classified as harmless. It was only when public criticism grew that Sarandos admitted according to matching media reports one of “screwing up”.