Staff Reports
Reed Hastings, co-founder of Netflix, has taken the plunge from streaming steward to political puppet master by throwing his weight behind Vice President Kamala Harris for the 2024 presidential race. This endorsement, however, hasn’t exactly won him any popularity contests among Netflix subscribers. Instead, it has spurred a significant number of cancellations, leading to what can only be described as the digital equivalent of a “great unsubscribe.”
With Hastings’ cheerful declaration directing attention to Harris, who is not exactly known for her favorability ratings, many Netflix users decided that their wallets would do the talking. After Hastings proclaimed his support for the vice president, the rate of cancellations skyrocketed, nearly tripling in the aftermath. It seems that Netflix subscribers, with their thumbs poised over the cancel button, were not impressed by Hastings’ foray into political endorsement and are taking swift action to show their discontent.
Reports indicate that the number of customers severing ties with Netflix reached levels not seen since before the basic-tier price hike, prompting many users to reconsider whether the streaming service is worth it when it appears to have chosen political alignment over consumer satisfaction. Hastings, a long-time benefactor of Democratic campaigns, recently upped his game by bolstering Harris with a substantial financial contribution, further intensifying the ideological clash in a nation already polarized by politics.
🚨 Netflix facing MAJOR backlash after co-founder Reed Hastings endorsed Kamala Harris for 2024. A wave of cancellations hit the streaming giant after his tweet, sparking an ideological divide! Read more: https://t.co/PxRGDnCUxP
— Patriot911 (@Patriot911News) September 30, 2024
The cancellations echo across social media, with prominent figures within the Trump camp rallying their followers under the banner of #CancelNetflix. Postings of bitterly smiling subscribers celebrating their account terminations have flooded X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, demonstrating a sense of unity among those who have decided enough is enough. If this surge in cancellations was meant to send a message, it’s loud and clear: consumers are growing tired of self-appointed elites using their platforms to push political agendas.
Netflix is now left to grapple with the fallout from Hastings’ endorsement while trying to maintain a semblance of neutrality in a climate that has seen social activism collide head-on with business interests. Previously, Hastings might have thought he could play both sides of the field, using his wealth to fund the left while capitalizing on the vast subscriber base of America’s homes—but it seems that this latest political stunt might just be his Waterloo. With consumers eager to vote with their dollars, Netflix now faces an uphill battle to win back canceled subscriptions and restore faith among a customer base increasingly wary of its political leanings.
