Netflix has fired its Chief Communications Officer after he used the N-Word a second time during team seminars. The decision to fire Jonathan Friedland was taken by Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, who shared the news with his entire staff via email at 12:45 pm on Friday. The communique wasted little explaining the cause of his dismissal:
"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."
Hastings then expressed a level of guilt for not acting sooner. He admitted he wasn't fully aware the weight of Friendland's words (in the first meeting) and how they affected company morale. After touching down with his staff he began to understand the consequences and his own responsibility to respond accordingly.
"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," said Hastings in good conscience.
Friedland filed his own statement over his firing, posted on Twitter to an audience of millions. Friedland previously held an executive position at Disney before switching over to Netflix in 2011 before the big boom of streaming services.