A former Netflix executive has filed a lawsuit alleging a company culture rife with alcohol consumption, citing a CEO who allegedly maintained a private bar and encouraged drinking at company events. Kevin Baillie, formerly the vice president and head of creative at Eyeline Studios, claims in his lawsuit that alcohol was "common, openly tolerated, and affirmatively encouraged" at company functions.
Baillie was terminated in April after admitting to colleagues at a January work retreat that he had taken medically prescribed ketamine. Eyeline Studios' attorney confirmed that the "ketamine-therapy issue" was a factor in his dismissal. Baillie asserts the drug was taken under medical supervision as a treatment following his mother's death.
The lawsuit details numerous instances where alcohol was allegedly present and promoted at company gatherings. According to court documents, Eyeline Studios CEO Jeff Shapiro is accused of purchasing alcohol for staff to share on their way to events, and of being present with a drink in hand at multiple work functions. These events included a welcome dinner in September 2024, the Netflix Annual Business Review in March 2025, and a Lakers game attended by Netflix executives in February 2026.
Baillie's legal team further alleges that Shapiro maintained a private bar in his office and served Baillie alcohol on multiple occasions, including after a meeting with Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos. Staff at a Netflix-owned venue also reportedly encouraged attendees at a team offsite to "treat the bar like it's yours" and to serve themselves when bartenders were unavailable.
Netflix's stated company culture emphasizes "people over process" and a policy of "context not control," with an "(almost) no rules rule" for staff. However, the company's alcohol policy for employees is not mentioned on its jobs page.
Baillie is seeking compensatory damages, lost wages, damages for emotional distress, and punitive damages. The California Post has reached out to Netflix and Eyeline Studios for comment.