A Reddit discussion about Netflix layoffs sparked backlash from workers and viewers by pairing reported cuts of 1,000 jobs with a news item from the summer that the company was directing $587 million to Ben Affleck's artificial intelligence startup.
Here's what to know
The discussion started in a Reddit thread after a user on r/Netflix screenshotted the report on Affleck's AI startup while characterizing the layoffs plus investment as "the biggest heist in recent history."
Many of the replies focused on personal stories from people affected by the layoffs.
"Spouse was one of the layoffs," a commenter shared. "She was there over a decade, barely any severance. Spouse's toxic manager survived."
Another commenter described a similarly shaken atmosphere, writing, "Yeah my spouse works for Netflix and he was safe but depressed the whole day. They cut so many people, most of them were a shock."
Other commenters connected the outrage to a binary choice with original programming and Affleck's AI company.
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"Says it is too expensive to continue past season one for some shows," a user said. "Goes on to pay almost 600 million for slop."
More background
Compensation at the top became another target. One commenter argued, "All executive compensation should be re-evaluated," asking why "some suit" should receive "a 50 million dollar payday" while creative workers take the cuts.
AI drew criticism for more than just its possible impact on jobs.
"My company worked in AI to our product and used it to justify an increased yearly cost, and it's going BAD," a Redditor shared.
The point connected the thread's anger to worries about companies using AI to raise prices without improving results.
What's being done?
Much of the discussion kept returning to the same workplace grievances of minimal severance, managers who remained in place, and teams left emotionally rattled by sudden layoffs. Leadership priorities were another recurring focus.
Skeptics of AI also offered their two cents.
"AI is the biggest financial bubble in recorded history," a commenter predicted. "I'm just glad we are witnessing it. Fascinating. Trillions will be lost when it bursts. When? I don't know."
That comment provoked plenty of discussion on whether companies or workers would feel the crash more. Many commenters thought the latter group would continue to feel the pain.
"It gets worse every year, and the rate at which it gets worse is accelerating," the Redditor, whose spouse was laid off, observed.
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