In a dramatic turn of events, a Netflix executive found himself jobless after sharing a deeply personal experience during a workplace “trust exercise.” According to a lawsuit, the executive, who once enjoyed a $1.1 million annual compensation, was let go after mentioning his medically prescribed use of ketamine.
Kevin Baillie, formerly the vice president and head of creative at Eyeline Studios, has initiated legal action against the streaming giant. His lawsuit reveals that his candid admission sparked an investigation which ultimately led to his dismissal.
Baillie, celebrated for his contributions to the visual effects of iconic films like “Pirates of the Caribbean” and the “Harry Potter” series, underwent supervised ketamine treatments in October and November 2022 at a clinic in Santa Barbara.
His legal complaint explains that he pursued this treatment to manage clinical depression, a condition he grappled with following his mother’s passing.
The incident in question occurred during a “Vulnerability-Trust exercise” at an exclusive Netflix retreat in January 2026 held at Sendero Ranch, a Northern California site owned by the company. Baillie disclosed his treatment to colleagues during this retreat, a gesture that, according to the suit, backfired professionally.
Baillie claims he explained the reason why he had taken the drug but was investigated by Netflix. On March 18, 2026 a company investigator brought the incident up, “in a manner suggesting suspicion of recreational drug use,” the suit reads.
The executive was fired in April with the company’s attorney confirming “the ketamine therapy issue has factored into the termination,” the papers say, and go on to suggest Baille was denied up to a year of severance pay.
Baillie says in the lawsuit the “scope” of the investigation related to alleged profanity and drinking. He has been warned during his performance review that he should “drop one or two less f-bombs but don’t stop entirely.”
It goes on to say that at the same retreat Baillie drank a Guinness standing on his head, after sharing that he had learned the trick from his former father in law during a conversation inspired by the trust session.
“His colleague immediately asked for a demonstration, rather than withhold the openness that the session had encouraged, he performed the trick,” the papers say.
Baille also paints a picture of an allegedly alcohol-fueled company environment encouraged by the Eyeline Studios CEO Jeff Shapiro.
During two company outings “Shapiro purchased beer at a corner store and brought it into the vehicle for the group to share,” the suit says.
In addition to hosting multiple parties, Shapiro also had a personal bar in his office “from which he served alcohol (to Baille) including after a successful meeting with Netflix’s CEO Ted Sanandos,” according to the papers.
Baillie is asking for a jury trail, compensatory damages, lost wages, damages for emotional distress, and punitive damages.
Netflix and Eyeline were contacted for comment.