Michaela Coel Reveals Why She Rejected Million Dollar Deal

Michaela Coel has explained the reason why she turned down a $1 million deal with streaming giant Netflix.

Coel had previously revealed that she turned down a deal with Netflix for her series I May Destroy You, in favour of a deal with HBO and the BBC.

One of the reasons Coel turned down the deal was because Netflix would not allow her to own the copyright to her own work.

Now in an Interview on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, host Emma Barnett asked Coel if the deal falling through had anything to do with her being a woman and asking to many questions in regards to the copyright.

“I don’t remember feeling like people found me difficult, I remember feeling like people found me disturbed,” Coel said.

“It was like, ‘She’s a crazy woman…,’ to the point that I started to think I was crazy or unnecessarily paranoid,” she added.

Coel went on to explain that she felt that Netflix where trying to “exploit her” by not letting her own the copyright if she went with them.

“I was right to observe the industry and observe there was a lack of transparency because there was an exploitation occurring,” the actress said.

I May Destroy You went on to be a huge success for Coel, with the series currently running for nine awards at this year’s Emmys.