Netflix Head Myers Resigns Amidst Losses and Criticism

Werner Myers, who played a crucial role in Netflix's efforts to promote inclusion and diversity, is stepping down from his position at the streaming giant in September.

The decision comes after Myers faced heavy criticism for causing significant financial setbacks, potentially amounting to millions of dollars.

Vice President of Inclusion Strategy, Wade Davis, will take over Myers' role.

During his tenure, Myers authored Netflix's first inclusion report in 2021, which provided transparency on representation within the company's workforce and outlined initiatives aimed at fostering an inclusive workplace culture and programming.

As part of these efforts, Netflix introduced a fund for creative equity, committing $100 million over five years to support talent from underrepresented communities.

The most recent annual inclusion report, released in April, revealed that $29 million had already been allocated to various programs.

In addition, Myers highlighted in the April report that Netflix had spent $700 million with underrepresented suppliers in 2022, representing a 9% increase compared to the previous year.

However, despite these efforts, Netflix has experienced a decline in subscribers in the UK.

According to research firm Ampere Analysis, the number of Netflix subscribers dropped from 14.2 million to 13.7 million this year, making Netflix the only major streaming service to lose subscribers in 2022.

In 2021, the company only gained 800,000 new subscribers, its lowest growth since its launch in the UK in 2012.

One factor contributing to the decline in Netflix's popularity in the UK is believed to be Megan and Harry's documentary show.

The couple's involvement with the streaming service seems to have played a significant role in the downward trend.

Moreover, the underrepresented suppliers mentioned by Myers were also associated with Megan and Harry.

As a result, Netflix is now expected to shift its focus towards fictional scripted content, particularly romantic comedies and light-hearted programming.

However, with Myers' departure, Megan's future projects on Netflix have come to a halt.

This turn of events serves as a harsh lesson for Megan, highlighting that in Hollywood, popularity and likability are the only currencies that truly matter, regardless of one's royal status.

While both Megan and Harry have expressed their fondness for romantic comedies in the past, Megan's involvement in shaping the scripts for such films remains uncertain.

Titles like “When Harry Met Megan,” “The Oppressed Actress,” “How to Lose a Prince in 10 Days,” “10 Things I Hate About Kate,” and “The Meghan Markle Story,” starring Megan Markle herself, have been suggested.

However, given Megan's background as an aspiring actress before marrying into royalty, it is understandable why she would be drawn to the genre.

Megan's journey from Hollywood Boulevard to a palace may resemble a real-life Cinderella story, but the ending of this tale remains uncertain.

As she navigates her career in the entertainment industry, Megan will undoubtedly learn that true Hollywood royalty is earned through popularity and likeability, rather than inherited through bloodlines.