Netflix exec claims ketamine confession in ‘trust exercise’ cost him $1.1M job: lawsuit

Former Netflix executive Kevin Baillie has sued nan streaming giant, according to tribunal papers reported by The New York Post Sunday, aft he said he was fired successful April from its Eyeline Studios section because he disclosed medically supervised ketamine curen for slump during a workplace retreat.

"The ketamine therapy rumor has factored into nan termination," nan lawyer said, according to nan lawsuit.

Baillie, who served arsenic vice president and caput of imaginative astatine nan ocular effects division, earned astir $1.1 cardinal annually. The complaint said Netflix besides denied him arsenic overmuch arsenic 1 twelvemonth of severance salary pursuing his dismissal stemming from his comments successful January astatine Netlix-owned Sendero Ranch successful Northern California, according to nan suit.

He said he underwent ketamine therapy astatine a Santa Barbara session successful 2022 while experiencing clinical depression pursuing his mother's death. He said nan supplier was prescribed and administered nether aesculapian supervision, according to nan report.

Former Netflix executive Kevin Baillie alleged he was fired successful portion for disclosing medically supervised ketamine curen during a workplace spot exercise. (Michael Yanow/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

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The executive disclosed nan curen during a vulnerability-trust workout that encouraged labor to stock individual experiences. When a Netflix interrogator questioned him March 18, nan title said nan therapy was presented arsenic imaginable recreational supplier use.

The interrogator raised nan curen "in a mode suggesting suspicion of recreational supplier use," nan title said, according to nan Post.

Baillie said nan company’s investigation besides examined allegations that he utilized profanity and consumed alcohol. His erstwhile capacity reappraisal had addressed his connection but did not nonstop him to extremity swearing entirely.

"Drop 1 aliases 2 little f-bombs but don’t extremity entirely," nan capacity reappraisal said, according to nan complaint.

Baillie sued Netflix aft his April termination from Eyeline Studios, wherever he served arsenic vice president and caput of creative. (Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images)

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The suit said Baillie besides told colleagues during nan retreat that his erstwhile father-in-law had taught him to portion a Guinness while opinionated connected his head. A workfellow past asked Baillie to show nan trick.

"His workfellow instantly asked for a demonstration," nan title said. "Rather than withhold nan openness that nan convention had encouraged, he performed nan trick."

Netflix’s public civilization memo promotes vulnerability and candor while describing nan institution arsenic a master sports squad alternatively than a family. Managers use a "keeper test" erstwhile deciding whether to clasp employees, though nan memo besides said workers should person regular feedback and beryllium evaluated connected their full record.

"If nan reply is no, we judge it’s fairer to everyone to portion ways quickly," Netflix said of nan "keeper test," which entails candidly assessing if 1 would conflict to support a worker if they wanted to leave, aliases if they would prosecute nan personification again if they knew everything they do now.

"You willingly person and springiness feedback; you are unfastened astir what’s moving and what needs to improve; you admit mistakes openly and stock learnings widely," nan tract states.

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Baillie said he disclosed nan curen for slump during a January worker retreat astatine Netflix-owned Sendero Ranch successful Northern California. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua via Getty Images)

Ketamine is simply a Schedule III controlled substance that is federally approved arsenic an anesthetic and is besides prescribed off-label for depression. The FDA has separately approved nan ketamine-derived nasal spray Spravato for treatment-resistant slump nether aesculapian supervision.

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Baillie is seeking a assemblage trial, mislaid wages, compensatory and punitive damages and damages for affectional distress. He antecedently worked connected ocular effects for nan "Pirates of nan Caribbean" and "Harry Potter" franchises. 

Netflix had not publically responded to his allegations arsenic of Monday. Fox News Digital reached retired to Baillie and Netflix for comment, but did not instantly person a response.