Reed Hastings’ $7 Million Donation To Kamala Harris Campaign Sparks Subscriber Cancellations At Netflix

Reed Hastings, co-founder of Netflix, is facing criticism after donating $7 million to a super PAC supporting Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign. This move has led to a sharp increase in subscription cancellations for the streaming giant, as reported by Bloomberg, citing data from Antenna.

Many conservative viewers, particularly Trump supporters, were quick to cancel their subscriptions and took to social media using the hashtag #CancelNetflix. The backlash comes at a time when Netflix has already seen an increase in cancellations due to its decision to eliminate the lowest-cost subscription option.

In July, the company experienced a cancellation rate of 2.8% in the U.S., a significant spike compared to previous months. While Hastings’ support of Harris was expected in tech circles, the reaction from Netflix’s customer base has been swift, particularly among Republicans who view the donation as a partisan move.

Hastings publicly endorsed Harris on X, writing, “Congrats to Kamala Harris — now it is time to win.” However, his donation and support for Harris have not been well-received by many conservative viewers, especially Trump supporters who see the endorsement as another sign of Silicon Valley’s alignment with progressive politics.

The controversy surrounding Hastings’ donation comes as Harris leads Trump by just 2% in recent polling, with both candidates fighting for key voter groups. Netflix’s future subscriber base could be affected by this political move, highlighting the potential risks of mixing politics and business.