Two transgender Netflix employees have filed labor complaints against the streaming service, claiming the company retaliated against them for speaking out and organizing a protest against comedian Dave Chappelle’s controversial new special.
The charges brought Wednesday to the National Labor Relations Board allege B. on October 20, according to the complaint obtained by USA Today.
Fields then faced “retaliation and threats” for speaking out against the Pagels-Minor launch in a viral Twitter thread.
“This charge is not just about Bee and Terra, and it’s not about Dave. It is about trying to change the culture and influence others,” the staff attorney, Laurie Burgess, said in a statement. “The charge is about teamwork. It’s about supporting your co-workers and talking about the things you care about.”
The streaming service denied its actions were retaliatory.
“We are aware of the harm and pain inflicted on our transgender colleagues over the past few weeks. A Netflix spokesperson said Friday in a statement: To the USA today.
Chappelle captured several snapshots of the transgender community in his new special, “The Closer,” prompting an immediate backlash with many denouncing the veteran comedian as abhorrent and transphobic.
Chappelle said last week that he was willing to meet with the employees who organized the strike, but said no one from the company had reached out to sit down and have a discussion.
.
