Netflix has fired its head of communications over his use of the “N-word”.

In an internal memo, Chief Executive Reed Hastings apologised to staff for not acting sooner.

He said the comments showed a “deep lack of understanding”.

Jonathan Friedland wrote in a tweet: “I feel awful about the distress this lapse caused to people at a company I love.”

He had been at the video streaming firm since 2011.

“Leaders have to be beyond reproach in the example we set, and unfortunately I fell short of that standard when I was insensitive in speaking to my team about words that offend in comedy,” he said.

The memo from Mr Hastings was first published by The Hollywood Reporter – its authenticity has been confirmed by the BBC.

“His descriptive use of the N-word on at least two occasions at work showed unacceptably low racial awareness and sensitivity,” the note to all staff read.
‘Awful anomaly’

Mr Hastings detailed two instances when Mr Friedland was said to have used the offensive term.

The first incident was at a meeting with the public relations team to discuss sensitive words.

Source: BBC