Top 20 Biggest Netflix Scandals
#20: Crackdown on Password Sharing
Ever since Netflix went into film and TV production, the streaming giant has done its best to increase subscribers and maximize profits. This has seen them raise subscription prices multiple times, much to the dismay of many customers. In the same vein, Netflix announced in late 2022 that they’ll be putting in place measures to discourage password sharing. How, you ask? Well, by linking accounts with a primary location and preventing people who don’t live there from accessing them. Or at least, charging them an additional fee to share it. The announcement caused an uproar on social media, with many threatening to cancel their subscriptions and pointing out Netflix’s previous ironic statements.
#19: “The Goop Lab”
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Founded by Hollywood actress Gwyneth Paltrow, the wellness and lifestyle company Goop has been at the center of controversy multiple times. The company has been largely criticized for marketing products and treatments that many experts consider to be pseudoscientific and potentially harmful. In 2020, Netflix premiered “The Goop Lab,” a six-part documentary series that further explores the organization’s controversial ideas and practices. Although each episode began with a disclaimer stating that it was only meant to “entertain and inform,” many still accused them of spreading misinformation. Despite the backlash, Netflix refused to take the series off its platform, even going further to renew it for a second season.
#18: Mo'Nique Calls for a Boycott
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In 2018, Oscar-winning actress Mo’Nique rallied her fans to boycott Netflix, alleging that the company had discriminated against her. Mo’Nique claimed that the streaming giant had offered her $500,000 for a one-hour comedy special, while paying others who weren’t black women significantly higher. These claims were echoed by fellow comedian Wanda Sykes, who stated that she was paid even less than Mo’Nique for her special. The actress filed a lawsuit against Netflix, claiming that they had violated anti-discrimination laws and attempted to retaliate against her for speaking up. However, both parties seem to have ironed out their differences, as the case was settled out-of-court and Mo’Nique released a comedy special on the streamer in April 2023.
#17: “The Crown” Equal Pay Dispute
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The gender pay disparity has proven to be a serious problem in virtually all industry sectors. Producers of the Netflix series “The Crown” came under fire when it was revealed in 2018 that Claire Foy was paid less per episode than Matt Smith. Foy had portrayed Queen Elizabeth II, the main subject of the show, while Smith starred as her husband Prince Philip. The streamer initially defended its decision, chalking it up to Smith’s already established presence from his time as Doctor Who. But with increasing backlash, they eventually issued an apology and promised to do better going forward. However, as Foy’s tenure in the role had already ended, the apology was deemed by many to be a little too late.
#16: Qwikster
We all know the origin story of Netflix - starting as a DVD-by-mail service that eventually put their biggest competition, Blockbuster, out of business. As the years progressed, the company sought to make more profits from their streaming and DVD rental services. Hence, they increased subscription prices in 2011. When that decision was met with an overwhelmingly negative reception, Netflix decided to launch Qwikster to handle the rentals, with an additional charge. They quickly learned how big of a mistake this was. The company reportedly lost about a million subscribers and saw its stock value plummet in the aftermath. Just three weeks after launching the plan, Qwikster was axed, although Netflix retained the price hike.
#15: Autistic Portrayal in “Atypical”
The Netflix show “Atypical” revolves around Sam Gardner, a young man on the autism spectrum trying to handle relationships and his family. After the premiere of its first season, the series was praised by some for its representation of the condition. However, it faced criticism from many in the autistic community. One major point of contention was that the show seemingly presented a stereotypical view of autism, with the main character being portrayed more as a caricature than a real person. Detractors also highlighted the glaring lack of autistic actors, writers and crew members. Things seemed to get better with subsequent seasons, as the series hired more autistic individuals to achieve a well-rounded representation.
#14: Porta dos Fundos & Their Depictions of Jesus
The Brazilian comedy troupe Porta dos Fundos are well-known for poking fun at religion, sexuality and politics. The group has released two Netflix specials: “The Last Hangover” and “The First Temptation of Christ”. Both films centered around Jesus Christ, with the former satirizing the Last Supper and the latter fictionalizing his return home after being tempted in the desert. Although critically acclaimed, “The Last Hangover” was decried by many, particularly in Singapore where Netflix was forced to remove it from their platform. “The First Temptation of Christ” caused a much larger uproar, with more than 2 million people signing a petition to have it taken off. It also resulted in Porta dos Fundos’ headquarters getting destroyed by a religious extremist group.
#13: Danny Masterson Controversy
In the wake of the
#MeToo movement, multiple Netflix stars became embroiled in misconduct and assault allegations, most notably Kevin Spacey. More on that later. Due to the magnitude of the Spacey scandal, it nearly overshadowed that of actor Danny Masterson. Masterson had risen to prominence on “That ‘70s Show” and in his adulthood, he became known for his role on the Netflix show “The Ranch”. Beginning in 2017, multiple women accused Masterson of harassment and/or assault, with some incidents dating back to the early 2000s. As a result, he was fired from “The Ranch” by Netflix. Masterson faced criminal charges in relation to the incidents and in November 2022, his first court case ended in a mistrial.
#12: Partnership with Liu Cixin
In September 2020, Netflix announced that it had partnered with Chinese science fiction writer Liu Cixin. This partnership would bring an English-language series adaptation of his “Three-Body” trilogy to the streamer. The works are considered highly influential in China, and the adaptation was sure to be a hit for Netflix. However, the announcement generated controversy in the U.S. due to Cixin’s support of the Chinese government’s treatment of Uighur muslims in Xinjiang. Five American senators wrote a letter to Netflix condemning their decision to work with Cixin. In response, Netflix defended the partnership, stating their disagreement with the author’s opinions, which they claimed would not influence the show in any way.
#11: Basically Everything About “Insatiable”
Right from the moment its first trailer dropped, the Netflix comedy series “Insatiable” spurred a negative reaction. The show starred the slender actress Debby Ryan as Patty Bladell, an overweight high school girl who transforms her physical appearance after being taunted by her classmates. Many first took offense with Ryan donning a bodysuit for the role, with over 100,000 calling for the show’s cancellation through an online petition before it even premiered. Once it was released, the backlash only grew, with detractors accusing the show of fat-shaming and promoting harmful stereotypes about body image. Despite all of this, and the negative critical reviews it garnered, “Insatiable” was renewed for a second season, which ultimately became its last.
#10: The Fox Lawsuit
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Numerous talents have jumped ship from other media giants to produce content for Netflix, causing plenty of friction in the industry. A year before entering negotiations with Disney about an acquisition, 20th Century Fox filed a lawsuit against Netflix. Fox accused Netflix of illegally “poaching” two of their top executives under contract, Marco Waltenberg and Tara Flynn. A month later, Netflix fired back with a counter-suit, accusing Fox of creating “unlawful barriers.” In 2019, Judge Marc Gross ruled in Fox’s favor, preventing Netflix from soliciting employees with fixed-term employment agreements. Netflix subsequently appealed, only to lose in December 2021. Fox isn’t the only brand that Netflix has clashed with, as Viacom also sued the streaming service for enlisting Momita Sengupta, who had been under contract.
#9: Bill Cosby, No Laughing Matter
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In August 2014, Netflix announced that they would distribute “Bill Cosby 77,” a standup film commemorating the comedian’s 77th birthday. A month before the film was set to release, comedian Hannibal Buress delivered a standup routine highlighting the assault allegations against Cosby. As Buress’ routine went viral, more women came forward with similar allegations regarding the once renowned comedian. Netflix put the film on hold mere hours after Janice Dickinson recounted her history with Cosby. By July 2015, Netflix’s chief content officer, Ted Sarandos, announced that “Bill Cosby 77” was no longer coming to Netflix. Cosby would be found guilty three years later, spending another three years in prison. While Cosby has been released, don’t expect to see the film on Netflix anytime soon.
#8: Oscar Eligibility
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For the longest time, it was easy to differentiate theatrical movies from TV movies. With the rise of streaming, that line has been blurred. Since Netflix has distributed numerous high-profile films, many have debated whether they should be eligible at the Oscars. To qualify for Academy Award consideration, a film must play in L.A. for a minimum of seven consecutive days with three daily showings. For the Oscar hopeful “Roma,” Netflix released the film theatrically for three weeks before making it available at home. Despite meeting the requirements, industry leaders like Steven Spielberg argued that streaming releases belong at the Emmys. Of course, with the COVID-19 pandemic just around the corner, streaming suddenly went from a luxury to a necessity in the cinematic experience.
#7: Disney Removes Content
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Netflix and Disney - a beautiful partnership that wasn’t built to last. In late-2012, the Mouse House entered an exclusive streaming deal with Netflix. Classic Disney films were quickly made available on Netflix. Starting in 2016, newer Disney releases would be added too. The two companies also collaborated on original Marvel shows like “Daredevil” and “Jessica Jones.” In 2017, though, Disney announced that they would be moving away from Netflix to launch their own streaming service. On November 12, 2019, Disney+ officially hit the scene and the Streaming Wars became infinitely more competitive. Disney’s presence on Netflix is now virtually nonexistent. This extends to the live-action Marvel shows, which moved to Disney+ in March 2022. So, can we finally get “Daredevil” Season 4?
#6: Dave Chappelle’s “Closer” Comments
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In 2016, comedian Dave Chappelle entered a multi-millionaire-dollar deal with Netflix to distribute six of his specials. His final Netflix special, appropriately titled “The Closer,” proved divisive with the main criticism concerning Chappelle’s jokes regarding the transgender community. In addition to receiving backlash from GLAAD, the National Black Justice Coalition called for the special to be pulled. Ted Sarandos stood by the special even as a few Netflix employees staged a walkout. B. Pagels-Minor, a transgender Netflix employee who helped organize the walkout, would be fired for leaking confidential information about the company. Chappelle’s rep announced that he’d be holding off on transgender jokes “until we can all laugh together.” However, the rep noted that “Dave stands by his art.”
#5: “Cuties” Controversy
The title sounds innocent enough, but “Cuties” may be the most controversial film ever to hit the Netflix library. Premiering at Sundance in 2020, this award-winning French film centers on an 11-year-old Muslim girl who joins a twerking group. “Cuties” gained more attention when Netflix picked it up and released a poster that many argued sexualized young girls. While Netflix switched out posters, the company moved forward with distributing “Cuties.” As
#CancelNetflix started trending on Twitter, the film was met with widespread review bombing. The reviews from critics were much more positive, praising the film’s commentary on youth and internet culture. However, the subject matter alone was enough to attract criticism from politicians like Ted Cruz, who called for a criminal investigation.
#4: Netflix Animation
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With shows like “Kid Cosmic,” “Maya and the Three,” and “The Cuphead Show!,” Netflix seemed like a limitless playground for animation. Amid skyrocketing subscription losses, though, Netflix announced in April 2022 that several highly-anticipated animated projects would be axed. This included adaptations of Jeff Smith’s “Bone” and Roald Dahl’s “The Twits,” as well as Lauren Faust’s “Toil and Trouble.” Phil Rynda, who oversaw original animation at Netflix, was let go along with some of his staff members. Many other creative talents have also departed from Netflix Animation to pursue work elsewhere. Moving forward, it appears we’re inclined to see fewer ambitious animated shows from Netflix. But don’t worry! Netflix is eager to dish out more data-friendly shows like “The Boss Baby: Back in Business.” Uggg.
#3: A House of Cards Collapses
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There are 52 cards in a standard deck. So, it probably would’ve made sense creatively to wrap up “House of Cards” with 52 episodes and four seasons. It also could’ve saved Netflix from a PR nightmare. In October 2017, only five months after the fifth season released, star Kevin Spacey faced misconduct allegations. Anthony Rapp notably accused Spacey of making unwanted advances towards him when he was young. Spacey was subsequently fired from the show, which moved forward with its sixth and final season. A new president would be filling the Oval Office, however. While “House of Cards” was once Netflix’s flagship drama, many feel it’s been forever tainted by the Spacey controversy. Spacey’s annual Christmas videos as Frank Underwood haven’t helped.
#2: 13 Reasons Why This Needed a Disclaimer
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Based on an equally controversial book, the first season of this Netflix series centers on teenager Hannah Baker and why she ends her life. This wasn’t the only serious issue that “13 Reasons Why” tackled, but it arguably sparked the most debate. The graphic scene where Hannah commits her final act was especially divisive with some calling it “glamorized.” It’s hard to say if the show had any real-world implications, although the number of young people taking their lives reportedly increased following its release. Going forward, warning cards became a staple of the show. Actually, most shows that deal with self-harm and mental health now have similar disclaimers. Netflix would also edit Hannah’s infamous death scene in 2019, two years after the episode came out.
#1: Losing 200K Subscribers
Netflix has established itself as a major player in entertainment, forever changing the game. Even giants can stumble, however. In April 2022, it was reported that Netflix had lost 200,000 subscribers in the year’s first quarter, its largest drop in nearly ten years. There are several possible reasons why: raised prices, the increase of streaming competitors, the loss of licensed shows like “The Office” and “Friends,” and the declining quality of some original content. With its stock plummeting, Netflix is expected to only lose more customers. Granted, Netflix currently has over 200 million subscribers. Remember, though, it was once hard to imagine a world without Blockbuster. Will Netflix bounce back or will we be watching a documentary about the last Netflix subscriber one day?
