Netflix defends 'creepy' tweet about Christmas Prince viewing figures

Rose McIver in A Christmas Prince. Photo / Netflix

Netflix has responded to backlash against a tweet which publicly singled out viewers of its new film A Christmas Prince.

The streaming service shared on its Twitter account yesterday that 53 people had watched A Christmas Prince, starring Kiwi Rose McIver, every day for 18 days.

"To the 53 people who've watched A Christmas Prince every day for the past 18 days: Who hurt you?", wrote the tweet.

The tweet didn't go down favourably with everyone, with some branding it "creepy" and accusing Netflix of shaming its customers in public.

Very creepy, Netflix. Not cool spying on your PAYING customers and then judging them in public. 😒

— Angela.Kay (@DeepSouthProud) December 11, 2017

Some questions for reporters to ask Netflix:
—How many employees have access to people's viewing habits?
—Are there any controls on how they can access this data/what it can be used for?
—What's the punishment for creeping on people?
—Why are they publicly shaming customers? https://t.co/bnouaaGnZC

— Trevor Timm (@trevortimm) December 11, 2017

Yes, Netflix making fun of the viewing habits of their own customers is a bit creepy.

— Frank J. Fleming (@IMAO_) December 11, 2017

So unknown creepy Netflix staff have access to your viewing data, use it to creep on you, laugh at you, maybe publicly. I guess it's like video store staff, except a massive database means it's easier for creepy Netflix staff to find and creep on individual people they know. https://t.co/JUlAau4xkQ

— Ben CatchYourCough Goldacre (@bengoldacre) December 11, 2017

In a statement to BBC News, Netflix insisted the privacy of its members was important to it.

"This information represents overall viewing trends, not the personal viewing information of specific, identified individuals," it said.

A Christmas Prince, a Netflix original film, has had an unprecedented reaction online, with Buzzfeed branding it "so bad it's good".

Takeaways from #AChristmasPrince:
- I hated it so much
- I can't wait for the sequel
- You bet your ass I'm watching it again before Christmas

— Brendan Leonard (@shutupbrendance) November 30, 2017

I literally love poorly written, never gonna happen, cheesy AF Christmas rom coms. 5 stars to #AChristmasPrince on @netflix. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

— Karina (@knzuri) December 3, 2017

#AChristmasPrince has everything: romantic snow filled walks, adorable children, grand entrances, wolves, clumsy Americans, jealous scheming ex girlfriends, betrayal, love conquering all

— Tegan Reyes (@teganreyes) December 2, 2017