Guy Pearce Says Netflix Has Banned Actors From Saying The Word ‘Binge’

Remember the halcyon days of the Netflix binge? The days when you would put on a show which looked half-decent in its first episode, and then the next thing you know it’s 12 hours later, the show sucks now, your spine has become a piece of abstract art, and you have forgotten the names of your friends and family. Those days are over! Netflix no longer endorses the binge!

According to Guy Pearce, at least. The Aussie actor – who stars in the new Netflix series The Innocents – said in an interview with the Empire film podcast that the streaming giant might be backing away from the terminology.

I don’t think Netflix likes the term ‘binge.’ When we did the promotion for [The Innocents] in the [United States], we were strictly sort of instructed beforehand not to talk about ‘binge watching’.

This is obviously a huge pivot if indeed true – especially given that I personally have received one million PR emails from Netflix either about bingeing or containing the word ‘binge’. But now that you mention it… I haven’t gotten one since April. Curiouser and curiouser.

It’s entirely possible that Netflix are backing away from the term now that it has taken a little more of a negative bent – given that it implies addictive behaviour and complete physical inertia. Here’s some alternative phrases I came up with that they can have for free if they want them:

  • Respectful Netflix consumption
  • Perfectly normal and healthy Netflix enjoyment
  • Responsible Netflix watching within the planned structure of a healthy and diverse range of mental and physical activities
  • EYEBALL MASSACRE

Give me a buzz if you want to use any of them Netflix. I’m right here in my office chair.

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