Netflix airs "Strong Black Lead" commercial during BET Awards, two days after firing its PR chief for using the N-word

The Hollywood Reporter

The commercial that ran during the BET Awards, featuring prominent black Netflix stars and creators from Spike Lee to Ava DuVernay to Laverne Cox, had been in the works for months before head of public relations Jonathan Friedland was fired on Friday after multiple uses of the N-word during meetings. According to The Hollywood Reporter, "the commercial had been conceived months ago by the company’s Strong Black Lead Team, a cross-functional group of employees spearheaded by black executives at Netflix. The spot was inspired by the legendary 1958 photo 'A Great Day in Harlem,' which featured prominent jazz musicians of the time."