Netflix is nest of vipers whose boss Ted Sarandos 'told executive her job was safe days before firing her'... as it's claimed her fondness for photoshoots in pink suits and sneakers sparked concern

Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos reportedly told his former lieutenant her job was safe just days before giving her the boot as part of a round of layoffs last month.The claims surrounding Netflix‘s now-ex Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria's October 15 firing come from multiple sources who spoke with Puck News for the most recent edition of Matthew Belloni's What I'm Hearing newsletter.Bajaria, 56, reportedly cornered Sarandos, 62, early last month about a then-rumor that former Fox and Disney exec Peter Rice was set to succeed her. The rumor became a reality just days later. Sarandos, however, had denied it, according to Puck.The CEO reportedly told other senior execs he 'wasn’t prepared to talk to [Bajaria] about' his plans at the time – a response one exec told Puck left them 'all surprised.'One source described as a Netflix 'insider' aired their suspicion that Sarandos 'had some issues' with Bajaria's love of the limelight – a trait they said her replacement lacked.'Bela wanted to do photo shoots in Vogue,' the person told Puck. 'Bela wanted to do Variety covers with her sneakers up and pink suits... Ted also wants [press] like that.''Peter wants to be in the work. He is very focused on the artistry of entertainment,' the source said, in contrast. Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos (far left) reportedly told his former lieutenant Bela Bajaria (far right) her job was safe just days before giving her the boot on October 15. The two are seen together in 2025 with Millie Bobby Brown and David Harbour at the 'Stranger Things' Season 5 premiere A Netflix 'insider' aired their suspicion Sarandos 'had some issues' with Bajaria's love of the limelight. 'Bela wanted to do photo shoots in Vogue,' they said. 'Bela wanted to do Variety covers with her sneakers up and pink suits.' Bajaria is seen posing for a 2024 feature from VarietyNetflix declined to comment on the sources' claims when approached by the Daily Mail on Tuesday.Bajaria was Netflix's chief content officer for more than a decade before being laid off with roughly 1,000 other staffers after months of markdowns in the streamer's share price. The once-attractive stock fell more than 40 percent from December to October, before falling another 10 percent last month as well.In late September, HSBC analyst Mohammed Khallouf downgraded Netflix shares from a 'Buy' to 'Hold' rating due to recent success from YouTube in reaching Americans' living rooms. Bajaria was widely thought to be safe from the cuts, sources told Deadline last month – days after they were laid bare in an October 15 memo where Sarandos praised his deputy for 'a lot of great hits' and asserted he was 'thrilled' to see Rice replace her.'I know we can do better,' the CEO reportedly added during a portion of the company's Q3 earnings call that addressed Bajaria's exit. 'We see an opportunity to take our slate to the next level.' Netflix shares have fallen about five percent since.Shares are trading around $62 – down roughly 50 percent this past year.Several sources told independent entertainment journalist Jeff Sneider on October 14 there were 'rumblings' that either Bajaria or Netflix's now-former head of film, Dan Lin, 'will have to face the music soon' as the company continues to shed value. The source said the stricken COO's replacement, former Disney and Fox exec Peter Rice, does not sport such a desire Bajaria, 56, reportedly cornered Sarandos early last month about a then-rumor that Rice was set to succeed her. Sarandos reportedly denied it due to not being ready to talk about those plans. Bajaria is seen 11 days after her firing, at a gala at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills The company's stock has dropped drastically since the photo in the past year due to competition from sites like YouTube, by roughly 50 percent. The streamer recently saw plans to purchase storied studio Warner fizzle out, after an $111 billion from ParamountBajaria was fired the following day. Lin's exit was announced the following Monday. He had been in charge of Netflix's film slate for just two years. Another source told Sneider about the purported situation surrounding the company's upcoming Narnia adaptation, being directed by Barbie's Greta Gerwig. They said Gerwig reportedly recently complained about 'meddling' from Lin and receiving 'a lot of notes about early cuts' of the film, which comes out in February.A September 17 interview with Empire for a cover story about the upcoming film saw Gerwig detail her decision to cast Academy Award-winning actress Meryl Streep as the iconic character Aslan the lion. 'I wanted someone who was profound but not pretentious, who had gravitas but not morose self-seriousness. Someone who could communicate depth and pathos as well as joy and delight,' she told the magazine.'I wanted someone who was older than 70, so there was a wisdom of experience, but who also had the capacity of fresh wonder, like a child. And also to be one of the greatest actors to ever do it. That list is not a long one.'The director, having previously worked with Streep on 2019’s Little Women, said her take on the character was also partially inspired by the late David Bowie. Sarandos, meanwhile, appeared to acknowledge the company's current struggles during Bloomberg’s 2026 Screentime conference on September 30. 'Overall, we’re not growing as fast as I want us to, and we’re working on making that move faster,' he told the Los Angeles audience at the time. He went on to add, 'The business is great and growing fine.'