Hannah Gadsby Slams Netflix’s “Amoral Algorithm Cult” Amid Dave Chappelle’s ‘The Closer’ Controversy

By Abby Monteil
Published Oct. 15, 2021, 9:03 a.m. ET

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Dave Chappelle: The Closer

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After being name-checked in Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos‘ second internal memo defending Dave Chappelle‘s controversial special The Closer, comedian Hannah Gadsby slammed Sarandos in a new Instagram post.

Soon after The Closer hit Netflix on Oct. 5, Chappelle faced backlash for his comments about trans people, such as making explicit jokes about the validity of trans women’s gender and defending derogatory comments made by Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling. However, Sarandos has stood by Chappelle, saying, “We have a strong belief that content on screen doesn’t directly translate to real-world harm.”

Sarandos continued: “We are working hard to ensure marginalized communities aren’t defined by a single story. So we have Sex Education, Orange is the New Black, Control Z, Hannah Gadsby, and Dave Chappelle.”

This mention prompted Gadsby — a lesbian comedian who has released Emmy-recognized comedy specials Nanette and Douglas on the streamer — to speak out against the Netflix executive in an Oct. 15 Instagram post. “Hey Ted Sarandos! Just a quick note to let you know that I would prefer if you didn’t drag my name into your mess,” she wrote. “Now I have to deal with even more of the hate and anger that Dave Chappelle’s fans like to unleash on me every time Dave gets 20 million dollars to process his stunted partial world view.”

“You didn’t pay me nearly enough to deal with the real world consequences of the hate speech dog whistling you refuse to acknowledge, Ted,” Gadsby continued. “Fuck you and your amoral algorithm cult… I do shits with more back bone than you. That’s just a joke! I definitely didn’t cross a line because you just told the world there isn’t one.”

Gadsby isn’t the only Netflix talent to criticize the streamer for releasing The Closer. Former Dear White People executive producer Jaclyn Moore also addressed the special, tweeting that she would no longer work with Netflix “as long as they continue to put out and profit from blatantly and dangerously transphobic content.”