Dave Chappelle's special "The Closer," according to a top Netflix executive, does not cross "the line on hate" and will remain on the streaming site despite the blowback from his remarks on transgenders.
"Some talent" may join third parties in asking for the show's cancellation, said Ted Sarandos, co-chief executive, who also stated that they are "not going to do this in an internal message."
Netflix did not respond to a request for comment on the memo, which was first reported Monday by Variety.
However, in response to news reports, the firm said it had suspended three employees, including one named Terra Field, who had tweeted her displeasure with Chappelle's special.
Field describes herself as a senior software developer at Netflix who identifies as transgender on social media.
"It is completely false to claim that we have suspended any of our staff because they tweeted about this event," Netflix said in a statement, adding that employees are encouraged to express their disagreements openly, and "we support their right to do so."
An individual with knowledge of the situation stated that the three employees attended a quarterly meeting for company directors and vice presidents without first obtaining permission.
The individual, who was not permitted to speak publicly about the subject, claimed that one employee had been suspended as a consequence of an investigation.
A request for comment from Field did not receive a prompt response. The transgender rights activist said in her social media posts that Chappelle was being chastised not for his disrespectful remarks, but for the harm they inflict to the transgender community in general, and Black women specifically.
According to Field, transgender men and women of color have been killed, adding that the victims have not been offended in each instance. Chappelle's representative did not respond to a request for comment.
According to a statement released on Monday by the media watchdog group GLAAD, "anti-LGBTQ content" breaches Netflix's policy of rejecting shows that encourage hatred or violence against LGBT people.
As part of its call to action, GLAAD encouraged Netflix management to "hear from their LGBTQ employees, industry leaders, and audiences, and commit to upholding their own standards."
