Netflix exec claims ketamine confession in ‘trust exercise’ cost him $1.1M job: lawsuit

Former Netflix executive Kevin Baillie has sued the streaming giant, according to court papers reported by The New York Post Sunday, after he said he was fired in April from its Eyeline Studios division because he disclosed medically supervised ketamine treatment for depression during a workplace retreat."The ketamine therapy issue has factored into the termination," the attorney said, according to the lawsuit.Baillie, who served as vice president and head of creative at the visual effects division, earned about $1.

1 million annually. The complaint said Netflix also denied him as much as one year of severance pay following his dismissal stemming from his comments in January at Netlix-owned Sendero Ranch in Northern California, according to the suit.He said he underwent ketamine therapy at a Santa Barbara clinic in 2022 while experiencing clinical depression following his mother's death.

He said the drug was prescribed and administered under medical supervision, according to the report.TRUMP SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER DIRECTING FDA TO REVIEW PSYCHEDELICS DESIGNATED AS BREAKTHROUGH THERAPY DRUGSThe executive disclosed the treatment during a vulnerability-trust exercise that encouraged employees to share personal experiences. When a Netflix investigator questioned him March 18, the complaint said the therapy was presented as potential recreational drug use.

The investigator raised the treatment "in a manner suggesting suspicion of recreational drug use," the complaint said, according to the Post.Baillie said the company’s investigation also examined allegations that he used profanity and consumed alcohol. His previous performance review had addressed his language but did not direct him to stop swearing entirely."

Drop one or two less f-bombs but don’t stop entirely," the performance review said, according to the complaint.VALERIE BERTINELLI APOLOGIZES AFTER DROPPING F-BOMB ON LIVE TVThe lawsuit said Baillie also told colleagues during the retreat that his former father-in-law