Streaming giant Netflix has threatened to scale back its investment in the state of Georgia if a new pro-life law goes into effect next year.
The subscription service said it would “work with the ACLU” and other pro-abortion entities to fight the “fetal heartbeat bill” in court if it manages to become a fully-enforced law across the state. The bill was signed into law by Governor Brian Kemp on May 7, but will not be enforceable until Jan 1st, 2020.
We have many women working on productions in Georgia, whose rights, along with millions of others, will be severely restricted by this law,” Netflix’s chief content officer, Ted Sarandos, told Variety.
“It’s why we will work with the ACLU and others to fight it in court. Given the legislation has not yet been implemented, we’ll continue to film there, while also supporting partners and artists who choose not to,” Sarandos said. “Should it ever come into effect, we’d rethink our entire investment in Georgia.”
Netflix has used filming locations in Georgia for some of its biggest hits — “Stranger Things” and “Ozark.”
In response, pro-life campaigners the clear hypocrisy in the entertainment company’s “pick and choose” policy toward abortion measures.
“It’s very telling that none of these organizations protested extreme abortion/infanticide laws in New York and other states,” wrote Obianuju Ekeocha on Twitter. “But they’re all protesting a law that protects babies.”
Others called for pro-lifers to cancel their Netflix subscriptions. “If you have a Netflix subscription know you are supporting people who are for abortion and are fighting states who are passing pro-life laws that will save babies,” one person wrote. “#BoycottNetflix.”
Right now, the media service could really do without suffering a potential fatal plummeting of subscription numbers. Netflix is facing a deepening pit of debt, as it continues to plow funds into producing original content at a hefty loss.
According to Forbes, the company is expected to generate a “cash loss of $3.5 billion” this year. So, if it cannot drum up new customers, the company will be teetering on the edge of bankruptcy.
A lack of new subscribers will be mean it “won’t be able to meet its debt obligations,” Forbes noted, “and it will quickly throw the company into bankruptcy.”
And, judging by the number of people appearing to be saying goodbye to the streaming service, combined with Disney’s new streaming service set to launch, this bleak end could well become a reality for the floundering company.
“I have unsubscribed your network Netflix,” another person wrote on Twitter, adding that they oppose the company’s action on abortion will encourage their friends to unsubscribe.
“If Netflix stops filming in Georgia because we value life, why don’t we in Georgia boycott Netflix?” added one Anglican priest. “I can always buy my The Office reruns on DVD.”