It seems as though many Netflix subscribers have been looking for reasons to cancel their subscriptions to the popular streaming service. After all, with price hikes and cancellations of fan-favorite shows, there are certainly plenty of reasons to see subscriber numbers fluctuate. Now, however, it appears that Netflix cancellations have seen a spike after co-founder and chairman Reed Hastings made a hefty donation to Kamala Harris and her campaign.
Hastings has been known for endorsing the Democratic party and providing the donations to prove so. Nonetheless, it appears his most recent donation to Harris – a full $7 million as Hastings revealed to The Information – is what’s grabbing the attention of upset subscribers.
As shared by Bloomberg:
“Netflix suffered a surge in cancellations” after Hastings “endorsed Kamala Harris for president and donated millions to her campaign.”
The outlet continues to reveal just how drastic of a spike the cancellations generated:
“The rate of cancellations – churn in industry parlance – nearly tripled in the US after his endorsement, according to the researcher Antenna. The streaming giant has the lowest churn in the industry.”
The cancellations are said to come from fans of Donald Trump, with the phrase “#CancelNetflix” having been used on social media in addition to photos of accounts being canceled. As Bloomberg notes, it only took three days after Hastings’ donation to Harris became public that “July 26, was the single worst day for Netflix cancellations this year.”
It’s unknown what the long-term ramifications for such cancellations are, and whether or not Hastings will react any differently as a result. At the time of this writing, both he and Netflix have yet to make any comments on the situation.
Stay tuned to ScreenGeek for any additional Netflix news as we have it, including that regarding Reed Hastings and his decision to endorse Kamala Harris. It’s certainly another major turning point at a rather competitive time between Harris, Trump, and their respective fans.