Fact Check: No, Netflix Did Not 'Reverse Support' for Harris, Saying 'We Made a Huge Mistake'

Claim:

Netflix reversed support for Harris, saying: "We made a huge mistake."

Rating:

Labeled Satire ( About this rating? )

A rumor that Netflix reversed support for U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris in her presidential campaign, saying "We made a huge mistake," began circulating online in August 2024. For example, the Facebook page America's Last Line of Defense Facebook page posted :

After losing millions of subscribers and billions in market cap, Netflix backed down.

(Facebook page America's Last Line of Defense)

Some readers seemed to interpret rumor as a factual recounting of real-life events. "Its about time!," one user commented on the post, while another wrote "Awesome! The laughing hyena!" However, there was no evidence of Netflix making such an announcement.

Rather, the rumor about Netflix reversing support for Harris originated with America's Last Line of Defense — a social media account that describes its output as being humorous or satirical in nature. Its Facebook bio states:

The flagship of the ALLOD network of trollery. Nothing on this page is real.

The fictional story alluded to a donation of $7 million that, as Snopes reported in late July 2024, Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings made to a super PAC that supports Harris. However, the streaming service did not make this donation, and Hastings' contribution was not directly to Harris' campaign. Moreover, Hastings stepped down as Netflix's CEO in 2023.

America's Last Line of Defense has a history of making up stories for shares and comments.

Snopes has addressed similar satirical claims stemming from the social media account in the past, including the assertion that Netflix's stock fell 40%, losing $2 billion in four hours, after donating $7 million to Kamala Harris' presidential campaign in July 2024 and a rumor that actor Kurt Russell ended his relationship with "woke Disney," saying: "I've wasted enough of my career on them."

For background, here is why we alert readers to rumors created by sources that call their output humorous or satirical.

Sources:

Dobrin, Nikki. "Kurt Russell Ended His Longtime Relationship with 'Woke Disney'?" Snopes, 9 Aug. 2024, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/kurt-russell-end-relationship-disney/ .

Izzo, Sean Eifert, Jack. "Did Netflix Donate $7M to Kamala Harris' Campaign?" Snopes, 26 July 2024, https://www.snopes.com//news/2024/07/26/netflix-donated-7-million-to-kamala-harris/ .

PerryCook, Taija. "Netflix Stock Plunged After $7M Donation to Harris Campaign?" Snopes, 26 July 2024, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/netflix-stock-plunged-7-million-donation-to-harris/ .