Netflix sits in the middle of a culture war during Senate hearings
Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos was thrust into the middle of a culture war Tuesday as he testified before a Senate subcommittee about the company’s attempt to buy a majority stake in Warner Bros. Discovery.
Hearings before the Senate Judiciary antitrust subcommittee highlighted a series of concerns about traditional mergers on both sides of the aisle: that the deal could increase costs for consumers, reduce their theater experience, or reduce the market for entertainment activities. But much of the session also focused on Netflix’s so-called “woke,” including content featuring transgender characters.
Netflix is facing a competing bid for Paramount Skydance, driven by CEO David Ellison, the son of President Donald Trump and close ally of President Donald Trump and Oracle founder Larry Ellison. WBD rejected Paramount’s offer, but Republicans are pushing to put Netflix out of business.
“Why on earth would we give you an endorsement or a thumbs up to make you the biggest content behemoth in the world?” Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) asked. “It seems that you are not only involved in creating content, which is possible, but the most awakening content in the history of the world.”
After Subcommittee Member Cory Booker (D-NJ) began his questioning of Schmitt by saying he would return to the subject of infidelity, Sen. Ashley Moody (R-FL) responded that the content question was relevant to the topic at hand. “If there are people across America who are already struggling with their limited options,” he said to the administration, “you’re suggesting that you go too big, and I’m just saying maybe that shouldn’t be a joke, ‘let’s go back to mistrust,’ let’s be honest about whether there are going to be options.
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) made a difficult pivot on his question of whether Netflix would commit to using union workers and pay royalties on streaming content to ask, “Why does so much of Netflix’s children’s content promote transgender ideology?” Hawley alleged that “nearly half” of its content for young children, excluding young adults, “promotes a transgender ideology agenda.” Sarandos said he didn’t know where the alleged number came from, adding that “Netflix has no political agenda of any kind.”
French film Cuties featured heavily in the trial as an example of child pornography. The film, which was created as a commentary on the sexualization of young girls and which Sarandos said was aimed at a mature audience, not children, became a symbol of Netflix’s allegedly ideology-driven library. Billionaire and Trump supporter Elon Musk previously led a campaign against Netflix for shows like this one Dead End: Paranormal Park again The Baby-Sitters Club by inserting trans characters. GOP lawmakers also pointed to political donations heavily dependent on Netflix employees and content featuring LGBTQ+ characters as other examples of its bias.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) asked Sarandos and WBD Chief Revenue and Strategy Officer Bruce Campbell if they could watch the Grammys this weekend (only Sarandos held “tail”). “Are we in a stolen world now?” Cruz asked bluntly, referring to singer Billie Eilish’s speech against ICE, in which she said, “no one is illegal in a stolen world.” They both say they don’t know. (The Grammys are broadcast on CBS, which is owned by Paramount Skydance.)
Ellison declined the invitation to attend the hearing because he believed it would not be helpful given the circumstances, Booker said. But Ellison met with lawmakers privately, and Booker described his conversation with him as “fruitful.” Paramount’s bid could raise other concerns like Netflix, but Ellison’s father’s close relationship with President Donald Trump may reduce content concerns for Republicans, and raise it for Democrats.
Booker raised serious concerns about whether any transactions would be properly reviewed by independent watchdogs under the Trump administration. Sarandos admitted that she met with Trump shortly before the deal was announced, but the deal was not discussed in detail and was not the main focus of the conversation. “I don’t trust these administrations in their evaluation, and I pray to God that everything you hope for may happen if this goes forward, which you have proven with everything, happens,” said Booker.
