Netflix Inc sacked its Chief Communications Officer Jonathan Friedland on Friday for his “unacceptably low racial awareness and sensitivity”, The New York Times reported quoting from an internal memo. The video streaming company’s Chief Executive Officer Reed Hastings said while Friedland had helped strengthened the firm’s brand, “his lack of judgment in this area was too big for him to remain”.

Hastings purportedly apologised for not acting sooner while citing at least two instances where Friedland had used a racial slur.

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“I am leaving Netflix after seven years,” Friedland said on Twitter. “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.”

Friedland also posted and deleted another tweet, BBC reported. “Rise high, fall fast. All on a couple of words.”