Netflix co-founder faces backlash over Kamala Harris campaign donation

Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings is facing backlash on social media, linked to Vice President Kamala Harris’ 2024 presidential campaign. 

The Stanford graduate has maintained a public presence, frequently returning to his alma mater, appearing in Netflix videos, and making TV appearances. While Hastings is often celebrated for his role in reinventing the entertainment industry, his recent political donation has sparked controversy.

In July 2024, Hastings made headlines for donating $7 million to a super PAC supporting Harris’ presidential campaign. This donation, reported by Reuters and confirmed by Variety as Hastings’ largest single campaign contribution, led some Netflix subscribers to threaten cancelling their subscriptions. The backlash is directed at Hastings personally, not Netflix as a company, which did not donate to Harris or any other campaign in 2024.

Netflix subscribers' dissatisfaction with the streaming service has previously been driven by price hikes, password sharing crackdowns, and quality concerns. However, this latest backlash centres on Hastings' political leanings. 

Hastings, who co-founded Netflix in 1997 with Marc Randolph and now serves as Executive Chairman, has a history of significant political donations. The Times reported that Hastings and his wife, Patty Quillin, have donated more than $20 million to the Democratic Party, including up to $1.5 million to Biden’s 2020 campaign.