A former executive at Netflix’s Eyeline Studios has filed a lawsuit against the streaming giant, claiming his termination in April stemmed from his disclosure of medically supervised ketamine therapy during a workplace retreat. Kevin Baillie, who served as vice president and head of creative at the visual effects division, is seeking damages, including lost wages and severance pay.
Baillie alleges he disclosed his ketamine therapy for depression during a January trust and vulnerability exercise at Netflix-owned Sendero Ranch in Northern California. According to the lawsuit, he underwent the treatment in 2022 at a Santa Barbara clinic while experiencing clinical depression following his mother's death. The complaint states the drug was prescribed and administered under medical supervision.
When questioned by a Netflix investigator in March, Baillie claims the therapy was presented in a manner suggesting suspicion of recreational drug use. The lawsuit also notes that Baillie's prior performance review had addressed his language but did not mandate he cease using profanity entirely, with one review stating, "Drop one or two less f-bombs but don’t stop entirely."
The complaint further details an incident at the retreat where Baillie demonstrated a drinking trick at a colleague's request, adhering to the session's encouraged openness. Baillie reportedly earned approximately $1.1 million annually before his dismissal.
Netflix's public culture memo encourages candor and vulnerability, comparing the company to a professional sports team. The memo also outlines a "keeper test" for evaluating employees, which involves assessing whether a manager would rehire an employee if they knew all current information.
Ketamine is a Schedule III controlled substance approved by the FDA as an anesthetic. The ketamine-derived nasal spray Spravato has also been approved for treatment-resistant depression when administered under medical supervision. In 2017, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the Food and Drug Administration to review psychedelic drugs for potential use in treating PTSD and other mental health conditions, a move supported by figures such as former Energy Secretary Rick Perry and retired Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell.