Former Obama Adviser Susan Rice Joins Netflix’s Board Of Directors

Susan Rice, who formerly served as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and as President Barack Obama’s National Security Adviser, has joined Netflix’s board of directors.

Rice’s appointment arrives after reports surfaced earlier this month that the Obamas were in advanced discussions with the streaming service for a slate of political series. “We are delighted to welcome Ambassador Rice to the Netflix board,” co-founder and CEO Reed Hastings said in a statement. “For decades, she has tackled difficult, complex global issues with intelligence, integrity, and insight, and we look forward to benefiting from her experience and wisdom.”

“I am thrilled to be joining the board of directors of Netflix, a cutting-edge company whose leadership, high-quality productions, and unique culture I deeply admire,” Rice said in a statement.

The appointment did spur some controversy, Business Insider reports, with a handful of Twitter commenters threatening to cancel their subscriptions due to Rice’s comments following a 2012 attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi. Rice initially claimed that the attack was a spontaneous protest against a YouTube video that turned violent — spawning outrage from Senate Republicans. The Obama administration later acknowledged that the incident was a preplanned terrorist attack.