A former Netflix executive is accusing the streaming powerhouse of fostering a workplace culture steeped in alcohol, alleging in a new lawsuit that late-night drinking, booze-filled team outings and even a CEO’s private bar were part of the company environment.
Court filings obtained by The California Post allege that drinking at company functions was “common, openly tolerated, and affirmatively encouraged.” The complaint claims Jeff Shapiro, chief executive of Eyeline Studios, at one point bought alcohol for employees to share while traveling to a work event.
The claims surfaced in a lawsuit filed by Kevin Baillie, Eyeline Studios’ former vice president and head of creative, who says he was wrongfully removed from his $1.1 million-a-year role after telling colleagues at a January work retreat that he had previously used medically prescribed ketamine.
During that same retreat, Baillie was allegedly urged by coworkers to drink a Guinness while standing on his head after mentioning he had learned the stunt from his father-in-law, according to the court documents.
Netflix later opened an investigation into Baillie’s remarks, and he was terminated in April. The company’s attorney acknowledged that the “ketamine-therapy issue” played a role in the firing, the lawsuit states.
Baillie maintains that his ketamine use occurred under medical supervision in October and November 2022 at a clinic in Santa Barbara, where he says it was prescribed as treatment following his mother’s death.
As the former “Pirates of the Caribbean” visual effects team member seeks compensation over his dismissal, the case has brought fresh scrutiny to what he describes as a heavy-drinking culture inside Eyeline Studios.
The lawsuit alleges that “alcohol consumption was company-sponsored, leadership-modeled and condoned,” citing multiple examples that it says show Shapiro “set the cultural tone concerning alcohol at the executive level.”
The documents claimed Shapiro on one occasion purchased beer at a corner store and brought it to a company car ride to the Visual Effects Society Awards for staff to share.
Baillie claims he also witnessed the CEO consume alcohol with Netflix and Eyeline employees at his own welcome dinner in September 2024, the Netflix Annual Business Review events in March 2025 and even a Lakers game attended by Netflix execs including Shapiro’s direct supervisor in February 2026.
All up, Baillie’s attorneys provided over half a dozen examples of the CEO being present at a work event with a drink in his hand, according to court papers.
It was also alleged Shapiro maintained a personal bar in his office and he served Baillie alcohol multiple times, including after a successful meeting with Netflix’s co-CEO Ted Sarandos.
Staff at a Netflix owned and operated venue even encouraged attendees visiting for a team offsite to “treat the bar like it’s yours” after hours or when bartenders weren’t available to serve them.
“At check-in, ranch staff expressly invited attendees to serve themselves, stating, in substance: ‘sometimes we’ll have staff serving signature cocktails, and sometimes you’ll need to tend bar on your own’,” the documents said.
Netflix prides itself on its “people over process” mantra, where managers are expected to practice “context not control” and there’s an “(almost) no rules rule” for staff, according to its Netflix job’s page. But there is no mention of its alcohol policy for employees.
Baillie is suing for compensatory damages, lost wages, damages for emotional distress and punitive damages as he seeks a jury trial.
The California Post has contacted Netflix and Eyeline Studios for comment.
