Trans Lives Matter: Dave Chapelle special spurs walkout by Netflix employees

Netflix employees staged a walk out on Wednesday, in protest of comedian Dave Chappelle's special on the platform, and its anti-transgender comments.

Netflix employees were joined by allies who chanted "Trans lives matter," outside the OTT giant's LA office.

The pre-noon rally drew about 100 people, most backing about 30 Netflix workers who raised their voices against the show.

Also watch | Netflix won't be removing comedian Dave Chappelle's special, over his trans remarks

Ashlee Marie Preston, an activist and the event's organizer, who addressed the rally, said that calling out Chappelle for his remarks wasn't enough.

"It was important to shift the focus to the people that sign the checks, because Dave Chappelle doesn't sign checks, Netflix does," Preston said. "If we have companies like Netflix who aren't listening to their employees, who are forcing their employees to participate in their own oppression, that's unacceptable."

Elliot Page, who stars in Netflix's "The Umbrella Academy" and is transgender, tweeted that he stands with the trans, nonbinary and people of color working at Netflix who are "fighting for more and better trans stories and a more inclusive workplace."

Also watch | If you loved 'Squid Game, here are the top Korean dramas to bingewatch on Netflix

Netflix ran into a buzz-saw of criticism not only with the special but in how internal memos responded to employees' concerns, including co-CEO Ted Sarandos' assertion that "content on screen doesn't directly translate to real-world harm."

Also watch | Pakistanis unhappy with the casting of Ali in Netflix's 'Squid Game'

Netflix, has so far not taken down the Dave Chapelle show from its platform.