Netflix exec fired from $1million-a-year job after making surprise admission during ‘trust exercise’ at work retreat

A NETFLIX executive was fired from a $1 million-a-year job after making a surprise admission during a trust exercise at work. Kevin Baillie, head of creative at Eyeline Studios, claims he was sacked after revealing he had taken medically prescribed ketamine during a company retreat. Kevin Baillie, ex-Vice President and Head of Creative at Eyeline Studios, a division of Netflix Credit: Unknown The retreat was held at Sendero Ranch, an exclusive Northern California property owned by Netflix Credit: Unknown The Hollywood visual effects boss is now suing Netflix, claiming the company launched an investigation into his confession before terminating his employment. Baillie, who earned $1.1 million a year, says he used the drug under medical supervision at a Santa Barbara clinic in October and November 2022. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! The former vice president of Eyeline studios claims the Schedule III (class B) was used to treat clinical depression following the death of his mother. The extraordinary admission came during a “Vulnerability-Trust exercise” at a retreat held at Sendero Ranch, an exclusive Northern California property owned by Netflix. According to the lawsuit, Baillie opened up to colleagues about his treatment as part of the emotional team-building session in Janurary 2026. But the candid confession allegedly triggered a company probe. Baillie claims investigators treated the medically approved therapy as if it raised suspicions of recreational drug use. Court papers state that on March 18, 2026, a Netflix investigator questioned the executive about the revelation “in a manner suggesting suspicion of recreational drug use”. Most read in The Sun Baillie claims investigators treated the medically approved therapy as if it raised suspicions of recreational drug use Credit: Unknown According to the lawsuit, Baillie opened up to colleagues about his treatment as part of the emotional team-building session Credit: Plux Baillie was fired in April, with the company’s attorney confirming “the ketamine therapy issue has factored into the termination”, according to the lawsuit. The papers claim he was denied up to a year of severance pay following his dismissal. The former Netflix boss also alleges the investigation expanded beyond the ketamine treatment and included claims about his use of profanity and drinking. His performance review had previously warned him to “drop one or two less f-bombs but don’t stop entirely.” The lawsuit also describes a bizarre moment at the same retreat when Baillie drank a Guinness while standing on his head after colleagues encouraged him to demonstrate the unusual trick. The papers state: “His colleague immediately asked for a demonstration, rather than withhold the openness that the session had encouraged, he performed the trick.” Baillie claims the company culture at Eyeline Studios was also shaped by alcohol-fuelled events involving CEO Jeff Shapiro. The lawsuit alleges that during two company outings, Shapiro “purchased beer at a corner store and brought it into the vehicle for the group to share”. It also claims Shapiro hosted multiple parties and had a personal office bar where he served alcohol, including after a successful meeting with Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos. Baillie, whose career includes work on the visual effects teams behind the “Pirates of the Caribbean” and “Harry Potter” franchises, is seeking a jury trial. He is demanding compensatory damages, lost wages, damages for emotional distress and punitive damages. The Sun has reached out to Netflix for comment. Comment now