Fact Check: Did Netflix lose 6 million subscribers within hours of Kamala Harris donation? Viral claim debunked

Claims of Netflix losing six million subscribers following its executive chairman Reed Hastings’ $7 million donation to Kamala Harris’ presidential election campaign have spread rapidly across social media platforms. It has also been reported that the streaming platform lost $2 billion in four hours. However, it is worth noting that these assumptions are far from the truth. Netflix is neither losing money nor subscribers as a result of Hastings's donation to Harris.

On July 26, 2024, social media page America’s Last Line of Defense took to X and Facebook to claim:

“Netflix loses more than 6 million subscribers within hours of its big donation announcement.”

America's Last Line of Defense reports that Netflix is losing six million subscribers (Image via Facebook)

Another social media post from the same account read:

“Netflix stock tumbles almost 40% after big campaign donation announcement- $2 billion lost in 4 hours.”

A quote under the same read:

“It was a huge mistake.”

Although America’s Last Line of Defense claimed that Netflix was in trouble, it is untrue. The page creates news that is satirical in nature, which would mean that the aforementioned claims are false.

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Netflix did not lose 6 million subscribers following Kamala Harris donation

The news originated from America’s Last Line of Defense’s social media pages. If one goes to their Dunning Kruger Times official website, they will learn that the website shares satirical content.

America’s Last Line of Defense’s About Us page revealed that everything they publish is “fiction” and “not real.” They also wrote:

“If you believe that it is real, you should have your head examined. Any similarities between this site’s pure fantasy and actual people, places, and events are purely coincidental and all images should be considered altered and satirical.”

Furthermore, no other established news outlets reported on the same news.

Hence, it is safe to say that Netflix neither lost six million subscribers nor did their stocks fall because of the donation.

Not only did America’s Last Line of Defense share false information about the campaign donation, X user @toughtalkty took to the social networking site to claim that Netflix itself donated $7 million to Kamala Harris, which would mean that they had enough money to not increase the platform’s subscription rates.

However, X’s community notes verified that Netflix as a company did not make the donation, but Hastings did so in reality. They also clarified:

“Netflix itself did NOT donate any money to the Harris campaign.”

The false information comes after Kamala Harris secured the backing of the majority of Democratic Party delegates. The Netflix co-founder made the donation to a super PAC committee and is one of the many high-profile figures to endorse the Vice President.

Other high-profile leaders backing Harris include media mogul Barry Diller, Universal Filmed Entertainment Group chairman Donna Langley, former Paramount chairman and CEO Sherry Lansing, Steven Spielberg, and JJ Abrams, among others.

Kamala Harris is running in the election after President Joe Biden announced last week that he was withdrawing from the presidential race. He went on to endorse Harris as well.

Kamala Harris is currently the first South Asian American woman and Black American woman to hold office as vice president.