By Sam Bojarski
Since June 5, tens of thousands have signed a petition calling on Netflix to delete the “AIDS” episode of its “History 101” documentary series. On social media, some members of the Haitian community have advanced a movement to cancel Netflix subscriptions.
Karen Andre, a Florida-based attorney and political strategist, said she has reached out to her connections in the entertainment industry about the possibility of securing an apology from Netflix, over the “AIDS” episode.
“If the final response I get from my industry connections is they will not put out a statement, I am definitely cancelling,” Andre said, in reference to her Netflix subscription.
“History 101,” produced by ITN Productions, premiered on Netflix in late May. On May 27, the Instagram account XEAUX brought attention to a specific segment in the “AIDS” episode of the series, that traced the origins of the virus and appeared to place Haiti at the center of a global AIDS outbreak.
Netflix had removed the episode by the first weekend in June, after social media users voiced their displeasure over the inaccuracies in the video and the stigmas it revived. But demands to cancel Netflix have continued, amid dissatisfaction with the company’s response thus far.
Since the early 1980s, Haitians have faced stigma and discrimination after being labeled a high-risk group for HIV-AIDS by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Some members of the Haitian community have connected the demand for an apology with the growing, nationwide calls for racial justice in recent weeks.
“This is a great opportunity and teachable moment to show that they truly respect and support all black lives and their black consumers,” Andre told the Haitian Times.
“Once a correction is made, it’s normal and respectful for an entity to put out a statement acknowledging hurt and harm was done,” she also said.
Netflix has not yet issued an apology, although in a June 6 statement to the Haitian Times, a Netflix spokesperson acknowledged the concerns that were raised and said that Netflix had decided to remove the episode, while it reviews the issues involved.
Claudeen Pierre, who founded and manages the XEAUX Instagram page, started a Change.org petition on June 5, that demanded Netflix remove the episode. The petition has so far received more than 28,500 signatures and requested that those who sign take various actions, including cancelling their Netflix subscriptions.
