'Nailed It!' host Nicole Byer calls out Netflix for "f*cked up and disrespectful" thumbnail choice
29 May 2019, 15:14
In a series of now-deleted tweets, the host of Nailed It! on Netflix shared her thoughts on thumbnail choices used to promote the show.
Nicole Byer, host of Netflix's popular baking show Nailed It!, has called out the platform over thumbnails used to promote the programme. A fan pointed out that in one particular thumbnail image, two of Nicole's white male colleagues appeared in the promo for Nailed It!, while she did not (despite her being the main host of the show). The star tweeted that she found this to be "fucked up and disrespectful."
To clarify, Nicole does appear in some of the promotional thumbnails for the show. However, fans took issue with two white men being used to promote the show when its main host is, and has always been, a black woman.
In a series of deleted tweets, Nicole Byer reacted to a fan who made her aware that she was not featured in a thumbnail used to promote the show. Twitter user dylansauce wrote: "i remember reading somewhere that @netflix puts men on the thumbnails of shows and movies a lot, but yo - this is NUTS. @nicolebyer IS NAILED IT. I love wes and chef jacques but COME ON - this is so upsetting."
The original tweet has also been deleted but it depicted a Netflix thumbnail featuring Chef Jacques Torres and Wes Bahr, an assistant director on the popular show.
"If Netflix didn't sign my checks and give me a huge platform and opportunity to showcase my comedy," Nicole tweeted. "I would talk about how fucked up and disrespectful this is to me a black woman. Also how black women are a lot of times erased from many different conversations."
"I would talk about how it makes me know my true value as the host of the show where I work incredibly hard to elevate the material given to me. Lot of moments people love are improvised."
"I would talk about how this essentially white washing for more views. But they sign my checks and I'm honestly so happy and greatful [sic] to and for the show and no sarcasm I love my job and wish to keep it so I'll be quiet."
Shortly after sharing her thoughts on the situation, Nicole deleted her tweets and revealed that she'd spoken to a Netflix exec about "how the thumbnails are made and selected."
I deleted my last set of tweets bc I talked to one the execs on my show about it and the thrilling conclusion is the removal of the image and a conversation about how the thumbnails are made and selected that I’m happy with.
— nicole byer (@nicolebyer) May 29, 2019
In a 2016 blog post, Netflix revealed that it A/B tested different images for shows to "widen the audience and increase engagement by using different artwork." Different users will often see different images being used to promote the same show.
