Verne Diaris Ismaias, a driving force behind Netflix’s efforts to promote inclusion and diversity, is set to leave the streaming giant in September.
As the news broke, several other streaming platforms also announced similar cuts this past week.
This development has raised questions about the connection between Harry and Meghan and Ismaias, leading some to speculate if they were a pet project for her.
It is anticipated that Netflix might showcase the season after Meghan Markle’s departure in 2019, as she was not a major character on the show.
In fact, her screen time was less than five minutes per episode, often limited to delivering a sassy one-liner before the focus shifted back to the main characters.
During her tenure at Netflix, Ismaias played a significant role in promoting inclusion and diversity.
In 2021, she authored the company’s inaugural report on inclusion, shedding light on workforce representation, workplace culture, and programming initiatives.
This report coincided with the launch of the Fund for Creative Equity, a $100 million investment over five years aimed at creating more opportunities for underrepresented communities.
In April, Netflix released its latest annual inclusion report, revealing that $29 million had been allocated to various programs under this initiative.
Sergio Izama, Netflix’s chief talent officer, expressed gratitude for Ismaias’ substantial contributions in strengthening the company’s collective inclusion knowledge and capabilities.
Netflix’s commitment to inclusivity aligns with the entertainment industry’s growing emphasis on improving representation and investing in programming.
Since 2018, Netflix has experienced consistent growth, now boasting 232.5 million subscribers worldwide and an annual content spend of approximately $17 billion.
The company’s dedication to inclusion is evident, with Ismaias highlighting in the April report that around $700 million was allocated in 2022 to underrepresented suppliers, reflecting a 9% year-over-year increase.
However, it is worth noting that Meghan Markle’s character on the show never reached a high position, ranking at number 6.
Characters such as Harvey, Mike, Jessica, Louie, and Donna had significantly more screen time and outperformed her in every appearance.
This observation draws parallels to Meghan’s own life, where she managed to secure multimillion-dollar deals despite being perceived as lacking talent.