As Twitchy reported earlier, Netflix thumbed its nose at conservative subscribers when it jumped into the #SarahPalinFilms hashtag with a tweet that recommended the movie “Iron Sky.” The sci-fi comedy features an unflattering Sarah Palin caricature as president of the United States and draws a parallel between American conservatives and Nazis.
Conservative warrior woman and citizen journalist Michelle Lancaster reached out to Netflix via chat to express her objections to the tweet. Never underestimate the power of a woman with screen shots.
My Conversation with @Netflix over their #SarahPalinFilms http://t.co/BpAB27GuOg ht @TwitchyTeam
— Michelle Lancaster (@CyFitFreedom) May 1, 2013
The entire conversation is documented on Lancaster’s blog, The Jersey-Texan, but here’s a taste.
Click on the image for a larger view.
As the screen shot shows, a Netflix representative named “Katie” wrote, “I want to assure you that, that did not come from us. Twitter is a public site and anyone can post anything on there.”
Go home, Netflix. You’re drunk.
@SkiGarmisch Maybe @Netflix has been watching Madagascar and thinks if they say, "You didn't see anything," you'll believe it. @TwitchyTeam
— Duane Lester (@ThatDuaneLester) May 1, 2013
@SkiGarmisch Odd, because I just looked at it. With. My. Own. Eyes. @Netflix @TwitchyTeam
— Sean Hackbarth (@seanhackbarth) May 1, 2013
https://twitter.com/JustEric/status/329603581902741504
The tweet was sent from the verified Netflix account and hasn’t been deleted … yet.
#SarahPalinFilms "Iron Sky" http://t.co/F1yzPQaICt pic.twitter.com/sPWQTQ8Bdl
— Netflix (@netflix) May 1, 2013
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Lancaster wasn’t about to back down and insisted the tweet came from the official Netflix account. The Netflix rep paused while she consulted with her “research team,” then replied:
Alrighty so, Netflix does not have an official position on Sarah Palin or any political views. That post is in regards to a movie we’ve aquired called Iron Sky, which is a German-Australian produced action comedy which pokes fun at political views and such. This again has no reflection on Netflix’s position however it’s just a post on a new movie release much like our posts on news and updates we make.
So, Netflix was just pimping a new movie release and has no “official” position on Palin.
.@Netflix just sent me a LIVE CHAT saying they were just sharing this new movie release and it wasn't against Sarah. Umm?! #SarahPalinFilms
— Michelle Lancaster (@CyFitFreedom) May 1, 2013
But unofficially (on its official Twitter account), using the #SarahPalinFilms hashtag on a tweet about a Palin-mocking space Nazi flick is good stuff, huh?
I asked @netflix if they had poking fun new movie release for Obama. Still waiting on their response. @TwitchyTeam #SarahPalinFilms
— Michelle Lancaster (@CyFitFreedom) May 1, 2013
Lancaster was ready to fight like a girl:
That is not what was implied. By participating in this hashtag and promoting a movie which pokes fun at political views, Netflix is endorsing poking fun at Sarah Palin. Is this what Netflix stands for?
Is there a poking fun movie Netflix might want to share for a hashtag game against President Obama?
The rep replied:
I assure you that there was no intention on poking fun on Sarah Palin at all. I do want to thank you so very much for chatting in with us I would love to send your feedback to my research team. and Let them know as well how you feel about this situation. I totally understand, however that was just the popular hashtag following the movie. We just got caught up in all the mess with using it however once again this has no reflection on our position with political views and Sarah Palin.
Via email, Twitchy received the transcript of another chat with Netflix (hat tip: Twitter user @emcharland).
I’m unwilling to do business with a company that takes political cheap shots on Social Media towards my culture.
…
The movie that Netflix posted as a #SarahPalin film portrays an election campaign for a right wing american president, clearly modeled after Sarah Palin in which they try to draw parallels between extremely conservative americans and nazis. For Netflix to post that as a movie, and follow it up with a comment that it was an entertaining movie on twitter is disgusting.
The response from a Netflix rep named “Chelsea” was similar to the one Lancaster received.
Netflix doesn’t have an official position on Sarah Palin or any political views. The post that you saw was in regards to the movie, Iron Sky, which is a German-Australian action comedy which does poke fun at political views and all that. This definitely has no reflection on Netflix’s position! It is a post about our new movie, much like we do on any other new release or news updates we have. We definitely don’t want you to think that post was coming off as a cheap shot or anything!
Gee, why would anyone think that tweet was a “cheap shot or anything”? More from Chelsea:
I totally understand, however that was just the popular hashtag following the movie. We just got caught up in all the mess with using it however once again this has no reflection on our position with political views and Sarah Palin. I can cancel your account for you and you will not be charged in the future!
Yep, Netflix got caught up in a mess. And it’s one the company will have to address.
@RedBrightandTru I'll keep everyone updated if I do or do not get a response. @ginthegin Silence will speak volumes too, @netflix.
— Michelle Lancaster (@CyFitFreedom) May 1, 2013
Lancaster is awaiting an email response from the company. She wrote, “I’m not satisfied with the Netflix experience right now. We’ll see if they respond or retract the tweet.”
Yes, we’ll see. And if it disappears quietly, Twitchy is forever.
Update:
Another chat transcript, this time with Netflix rep “Hayden”:
Attn @TwitchyTeam – Hayden from @Netflix urges us all to file complaints RE: Netflix's #SarahPalinFilms tweet – pic.twitter.com/GPJAJAAWS9
— Lorraine Yuriar (@thekytikat) May 1, 2013
Hayden writes:
My jaw slammed to my desk when I saw that. Thank you so much for being vocal about this. If you know anyone else that would like to say something, just have them chat in, or call in, either way is fine.
Here’s an easier to read version of the transcript:
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