New details have emerged about what led to a surge in Netflix cancellations over the summer. Many of those cancellations may have been supporters of former President Donald Trump after the service’s co-founder and chairman endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris.
Reed Hastings publicly endorsed Harris and revealed that he donated $7 million to the Harris campaign. His endorsement and donation sparked an immediate backlash.
The hashtag #CancelNetflix began trending on X, with many users sharing screenshots, canceling their accounts. July 26 was Netflix’s sharpest spike in cancellations this year.
According to Bloomberg, the platform’s rate of cancellations jumped by 2.8% in July, the highest seen since it phased out its cheapest, basic subscription tier last year. Though Netflix typically boasts one of the lowest cancellation rates in the streaming industry, the impact of Hastings’ endorsement seems to have resonated deeply with some subscribers.
The entertainment industry has been no stranger to backlash over political involvement.
Disney spent the last two years in a public battle with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, R, after the company spoke out against a state law restricting classroom discussions on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Most recently, Disney faced scrutiny over the close ties between Kamala Harris and its entertainment co-chair, Dana Walden.
For Trump supporters hoping to make a statement, Hastings has long been a vocal Democratic donor. He supported Hillary Clinton in 2016, later contributing millions to California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s, D, recall defense in 2021.
With Netflix’s next financial results set to released in October, the long-term impact of these cancellations on revenue is still unclear.
