Netflix says no to screen disclaimer before each The Crown episode as bosses claim viewers understand royal drama is a ‘work of fiction broadly based on historical events’
- Netflix said The Crown is widely understood to be a ‘work of fiction’ by viewers
- It rejected Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden’s suggestion to use a disclaimer
- Its first statement on the controversy was described by one critic as ‘arrogant’
Netflix broke its silence on the controversy over The Crown last night, insisting there was no need to warn its millions of viewers that key scenes are invented.
The streaming giant claimed it was widely understood the hit series was a ‘work of fiction’ based on historical events.
And it wrote to Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden, rejecting his suggestion that a disclaimer at the start of each episode would be helpful.
In its first public statement on the controversy, Netflix told The Mail on Sunday: ‘We have always presented The Crown as a drama, and we have every confidence our members understand it’s a work of fiction that’s broadly based on historical events.
‘As a result, we have no plans – and see no need – to add a disclaimer.’
Netflix broke its silence on the controversy over The Crown last night, insisting there was no need to warn its millions of viewers that key scenes are invented. Pictured: Princess Diana shouts at Prince Charles in a scene from the latest series of The Crown
But the statement was described by one critic as ‘arrogant’. Others said the company’s intransigence was adding to the Royal Family’s disquiet over the affair.
Netflix has been accused of escalating the row by urging viewers to watch an explosive documentary about Princess Diana which it said would provide ‘answers’ to criticism of The Crown.
Its tweet promoting the documentary – Diana: In Her Own Words – led to vicious online attacks on Prince Charles and Camilla.
The Queen’s former press secretary, Dickie Arbiter, accused Netflix of getting trolls ‘to do their dirty work for them’.
For weeks, The Crown has faced mounting criticism from politicians, Royal experts and friends of Charles for fabricating a string of controversial incidents.
Mr Dowden said he feared viewers might mistake fiction for fact and wrote to the streaming service suggesting a disclaimer.
Tory peer Michael Forsyth said Netflix – regulated solely by a watchdog in Holland where it is based – had to be brought under British regulation.
He added: ‘This arrogant response to the Secretary of State’s request makes the case for regulation very eloquently. A drama does not entitle broadcasters to tell lies about people who cannot defend themselves.’
Pictured: Diana admires her engagement ring in Netflix’s The Crown
Netflix’s tweet about the Diana documentary was accompanied by a clip painting the Duchess of Cornwall in a bad light.
The documentary was originally broadcast by Channel 4 in 2017. At the time, the Princess’s brother, Earl Spencer, and friend Rosa Monckton called it a betrayal of her memory.
Last night Ms Monckton said: ‘For Netflix to use some clips to try and add veracity to their controversial series The Crown, which is full of inaccuracies, is disgusting.’
The documentary captures Diana at her most vulnerable. Her marriage had just foundered and she appears haunted by episodes from her past.
Nothing is off-limits and she speaks with unflinching candour, knowing that only she and her voice coach would see the confidential recordings – or so she thought.
Mr Arbiter said the recordings were Diana’s ‘side of the story’ but were being treated as the ‘gospel truth’ by Netflix, and it was clear the scenes in the current series were based on this version alone.
He added: ‘Netflix has invested millions and they are going to defend their production to the hilt. With this tweet they are playing to the masses, getting other people to do their dirty work for them.’
Royal biographer Hugo Vickers added: ‘What they have done is similar to what the KGB do – give you one true fact, then you say, “well, that happened”, then another one – and then something that didn’t happen at all.’