On Tuesday, Netflix clarified what it said was simply a mistake caused by an “internal miscommunication” problem: The platform is not going to air a documentary about Louis Farrakhan, the notorious anti-Semitic leader of the Nation of Islam with ties to key leaders on the Left. After having touted the airing of the documentary to his followers, Farrakhan issued a statement Wednesday expressing his frustration with the announcement and wondering aloud if Netflix wasn’t being honest about why they pulled his film from their release list.
In a statement posted on Twitter Wednesday, Farrakhan said his documentary, “My Life’s Journey Through Music,” was inexplicably pulled by Netflix.
“As late as July 30, 2018, Netflix published that this documentary would be ‘Coming August 1’ on its media platform,” reads the official statement published on his account. “On July 31, 2018, less than 24 hours before the airing of the documentary, the Nation of Islam became aware through news and online outlets that Netflix decided not to air it due to ‘internal miscommunication’. The Nation of Islam has not been informed of what was the alleged ‘internal miscommunication’.”
“The timing of Netflix’s decision – at the 11th hour – to cancel the airing of the documentary affected millions of potential viewers and raises more questions than answers,” the statement continues. “In light of this untimely sequence of events, did Netflix bow to outside forces in canceling the airing of the documentary? Did media pressure contribute to this result? What do the opponents of truth not want you to learn about Minister Farrakhan?”
As The Daily Wire reported Wednesday, “News of Farrakhan’s documentary premiering on Netflix was met with criticism across the spectrum due to the leader’s highly anti-Semitic and anti-LGBT comments. In June, Farrakhan even lost his Twitter verification after tweeting that he was ‘unmasking the Satanic Jew’ and the ‘Synagogue of Satan.'”
Amid the growing backlash, Netflix announced that the film being listed as scheduled to release on the platform was all a big mistake. “This film will not be released on Netflix. Due to an internal miscommunication, it appeared to be scheduled for release on Netflix, but it is not. We apologize for any confusion this has caused,” a Netflix spokesperson told Fox News.
Farrakhan has been in the news frequently over the last year due to his connection to various leaders on the Left, including Democratic National Committee Deputy Chair Rep. Keith Ellison and Women’s March founder Tamika Mallory.
