Netflix CEO Reed Hastings explained the network's decision to pull an episode of 'Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj' in Saudi Arabia, saying Netflix is 'not in the news business.'
DealBook Conference."We're trying to entertain."
"We can accomplish a lot more by being entertainment and influencing a global conversation about how people live," Hastings added,"than trying to be another news channel." While Hastings conceded there were some topics Netflix would not bend on, such as the portrayal of LGBTQ issues, the censured episode of"This was a truth to power [moment]," Hastings said."Hasan's enormously funny, interesting, and he's you know, one more quite justified critique of [Mohammed bin Salman]. But that's just not our core brand."
The episode in question was highly critical of Saudi Arabia, especially crown prince Mohammed bin Salman's alleged involvement with the killing of a reporter for"Now would be a good time to reassess our relationship with Saudi Arabia," Minhaj said,"and I mean that as a Muslim and an American." Hasan Minhaj performs onstage during the 13th annual Stand Up for Heroes to benefit the Bob Woodruff Foundation at The Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden on November 04, 2019 in New York City.of journalist Adnan Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October 2018. A resolution was passed by the U.S. Senate the following month, placing responsibility for Khashoggi's murder on bin Salman.
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