A sacked Netflix executive has exposed the streaming giant’s controversial, alcohol-centric workplace — detailing a culture fueled by late-night drinks, booze-heavy team offsites, and a CEO with a private bar, according to a new lawsuit.

Court documents obtained by The California Post claim that alcohol consumption at company events was “common, openly tolerated, and affirmatively encouraged” to the point where Jeff Shapiro, the chief executive of Eyeline Studios, allegedly purchased alcohol for staff to share on their way to a work event.

The revelations emerged as former Eyeline Studios vice president and head of creative, Kevin Baillie, sues the company for giving him the boot from his $1.1 million a year job, after he admitted to colleagues at a work retreat in January he had taken medically prescribed ketamine.

At the same retreat, Baillie was encouraged by fellow staff to drink a Guinness while standing on his head, after sharing he had learned the trick from his father-in-law, according to court documents.

Netflix launched an investigation into the comments and he was fired in April, with the company’s attorney confirming the “ketamine-therapy issue” was a factor in his termination, according to court documents.

But Baillie insists the drug was taken under medical supervision in October and November 2022 at a Santa Barbara clinic, which was prescribed as a treatment following the death of his mother.

As the “Pirates of the Caribbean” visual effects team member fights for compensation following his dismissal, scandalous details have emerged about Eyeline Studios’ boozy office culture.

The lawsuit alleged “alcohol consumption was company-sponsored, leadership-modeled and condoned”, with multiple examples of how Jeff Shapiro “set the cultural tone concerning alcohol at the executive level”.

The documents claimed Shapiro on one occasion purchased beer at a corner store and brought it to a company car ride to the Visual Effects Society Awards for staff to share.

Baillie claims he also witnessed the CEO consume alcohol with Netflix and Eyeline employees at his own welcome dinner in September 2024, the Netflix Annual Business Review events in March 2025 and even a Lakers game attended by Netflix execs including Shapiro’s direct supervisor in February 2026.

All up, Baillie’s attorneys provided over half a dozen examples of the CEO being present at a work event with a drink in his hand, according to court papers.

It was also alleged Shapiro maintained a personal bar in his office and he served Baillie alcohol multiple times, including after a successful meeting with Netflix’s co-CEO Ted Sarandos.

Staff at a Netflix owned and operated venue even encouraged attendees visiting for a team offsite to “treat the bar like it’s yours” after hours or when bartenders weren’t available to serve them.

“At check-in, ranch staff expressly invited attendees to serve themselves, stating, in substance: ‘sometimes we’ll have staff serving signature cocktails, and sometimes you’ll need to tend bar on your own’,” the documents said.

Netflix prides itself on its “people over process” mantra, where managers are expected to practice “context not control” and there’s an “(almost) no rules rule” for staff, according to its Netflix job’s page. But there is no mention of its alcohol policy for employees.

Baillie is suing for compensatory damages, lost wages, damages for emotional distress and punitive damages as he seeks a jury trial.

The California Post has contacted Netflix and Eyeline Studios for comment.