Tara Mobasher June 1st, 2020 - 10:00 AM
According to Variety, major streaming networks such as Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, HBO, and Starz have utilized their platforms on social media to announce their support of the Black Lives Matter movement. The movement began in 2013 as a protest against police brutality after unarmed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was shot and killed by police.
While the movement has been active and ongoing since then, the recent death of an unarmed George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police has resulted in an outpour of protests and activism from the Black community and its allies. Those with larger social media platforms and followings have been encouraged to speak up and share their support of the movement. Netflix took to twitter to stand up for their “Black members, employees, creators, and talent.”
To be silent is to be complicit.
Black lives matter.We have a platform, and we have a duty to our Black members, employees, creators and talent to speak up.
— Netflix (@netflix) May 30, 2020
Other artists have taken to social media to express their feelings of frustration and pain and have even taken greater strides to justice for their communities. Director Ava DuVernay (13th), who released the Netflix limited series When They See Us in 2019, has recently launched an online educational platform called Array 101. Her limited series examined the true story of the Exonerated Five, five people of color who were falsely imprisoned for the rape of a woman in Central Park in 1989. According to Variety, Array 101 acts as “an educational initiative aimed to bridge the gap between Hollywood and social justice.” Moreover, Chrissy Teigen (Chrissy’s Court), Ben Platt (The Politician, Pitch Perfect), Seth Rogan (Superbad, The Neighbors), Steve Carell (The Office, Space Force), and Ben Schwartz (Parks and Recreation, Space Force), are among the many celebrities that have pledged donations to the Minnesota Freedom Fund, via LA Times. Their donations would be used to help bail out protestors that have been unlawfully prosecuted. Initially, Teigen had pledged $100,000 to the bailouts of protestors, however after receiving backlash from Twitter followers that disagreed with the protests, she upped her donations to $200,000.
Ooo they might need more money then. Make it $200,000 https://t.co/axuJnazJkU
— chrissy teigen (@chrissyteigen) May 30, 2020
In addition to Netflix, Amazon Studios utilized their Twitter following to announce their stance with the Black Lives Matter movement.
— Amazon Studios (@AmazonStudios) May 31, 2020
According to Variety, the first Disney corporate brand to speak on the movement was the streaming service Hulu, who posted both on Twitter and Instagram.
We support Black lives. Today, and every day. You are seen. You are heard. And we are with you.
— Hulu (@hulu) May 31, 2020
More recently, Disney and Warner Bros. Entertainment have used their followings on Twitter to show support of the movement.
— Disney (@Disney) May 31, 2020
“Somebody has to stand when others are sitting. Somebody has to speak when others are quiet.” – Bryan Stevenson
We stand with our Black colleagues, talent, storytellers and fans – and all affected by senseless violence. Your voices matter, your messages matter. #BlackLivesMatter
— Warner Bros. (@warnerbros) May 31, 2020
Meanwhile, creators and actors such as Nick Cannon (Drumline), Samantha Logan (All American, Polaroid), Michael B. Jordan (Creed, Black Panther, Just Mercy), Tom Holland (Spider-man: Homecoming, Avengers: Endgame), and Ellen Pompeo (Grey’s Anatomy) have either used their social media platforms to make a statement or attended one of the many protests occurring across the country.
