Netflix Makes Fans Furious After Calling Them Annoying For Wanting Shows Brought Back
On social media, Netflix called fans of cancelled shows annoying, and it's not going well.
There is an old saying that states, “all publicity is good publicity,” but this isn’t necessarily the case when it comes to some of the recent decisions Netflix has made. The most recent social media kerfuffle on Netflix’s part comes in the form of openly mocking their subscribers for complaining about the cancellation of popular shows on the streaming platform. According to Screen Rant, the term “WHAT THE HELL NETFLIX” went viral quite quickly on Twitter, boasting over 18 thousand posts in two hours.
Now there’s another phrase that we need to consider that is quite fitting for Netflix’s most recent blunder, and that saying is “the customer is always right.” Not only was Netflix’s “joke” not well received, but account holders are also rightfully angry that they are being made fun of for simply wanting to continue watching their favorite shows. The image, originally shared on Netflix’s Instagram, was re-shared by a deluge of disgruntled fans, and they’re right to be upset.
It’s one thing for Netflix to cancel a fan-favorite show (or several shows), but to openly mock the people that are forking over their hard-earned cash through paid subscriptions has evoked nothing but anger. And in a day and age where it’s so easy to protest with your wallet, you’d think the social media manager over at Netflix would be at least somewhat aware of the backlash this post would elicit.
Twitter user @clexaflaritza said it best with their Tweet: “Imagine to be proud that most of your clients are annoyed with your services.” And this seems to be the sentiment across the board.
In other words, If Netflix is getting nothing but criticism for cancelling fan-favorite shows prematurely, then maybe they need to rethink their business model instead of egging on their subscribers. Or, at the very least, they need to rethink how they’re addressing these decisions publicly if they feel justified in canceling a particular series.
When you also consider Netflix’s recent decision to crackdown on password sharing, which would impact a large swatch of the current user base, fans have already been upset with the streaming giant for some time now. The password-sharing solution of a paid account-sharing initiative, which means more fees, has not been accepted by the enormous user base.
So if Netflix account holders are paying more fees, and their favorite shows (like Warrior Nun) are being canceled, then Netflix’s mockery of their subscribers couldn’t have been posted at a worse possible time.
But it’s also worth noting that although fans are upset over the cancellation of Warrior Nun, Netflix makes its decisions based on viewer data and overall ratings. In other words, Season 2 of Warrior Nun didn’t have as many viewers as Season 1 of the series, which would make any streaming service reluctant to renew a show for a third season. Warrior Nun showrunner Simon Barry has even gone on record stating that the low viewership of the series is ultimately why the show was cancelled.
But even if Netflix was justified in its decisions to cancel shows like Warrior Nun, The Midnight Club, Midnight Mass, and Altered Carbon, it may be in their best interest to be a little more tactful in their delivery. Netflix is still home to many of our favorite shows, and their initiative to test out sitcom pilots seems promising. But from a PR standpoint, it looks like Netflix is going to have to do some damage control in light of this most recent controversy.
