The Creator of the Internet Lesbian Buzz Feed

A still from the BuzzFeed Motion Pictures series, 'Lesbian Princess.' | BUZZFEED SCREENGRAB

BuzzFeed fires two amid video push

Two popular producers and personalities for BuzzFeed — Jenny Lorenzo, a writer, producer and actor for the company's English-speaking Latino-interest channel, Pero Like; and Brittany Ashley, a producer and actor who most recently wrote and starred in BuzzFeed web series "Lesbian Princess" — had for months been leading BuzzFeed's expansion into content aimed at Latino and LGBT viewers.

That is, until Friday — when BuzzFeed suddenly fired them both.

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According to several people close to the company, the abrupt departures were due to Lorenzo and Ashley appearing in "Gente-Fied," a seven-episode web series being produced by actor America Ferrara.

Both Lorenzo and Ashley took small acting roles in the miniseries, and both appeared briefly in a trailer that was released in May. (Coincidentally, a BuzzFeed article promoted the series in which they were involved.) According to people close to the company, Lorenzo and Ashley's involvement in "Gente-Fied" constituted a breach of contract because of a non-compete clause most BuzzFeed Motion Pictures staffers are required to sign.

The departures have reignited a debate about the increased prevalence of non-compete agreements in industries like media and entertainment — agreements that were once reserved for high-level tech and engineering jobs.

It is an early test of the mash-up of Silicon Valley and Hollywood culture, as well-funded digital media companies like BuzzFeed are paving inroads to the more traditional television and movie-making industries.

The two former BuzzFeed employees did not publicly share many details about their departure from the company, likely because of non-disclosure agreements the company that sources say some employees are required to sign.

"I no longer work for BuzzFeed/Pero Like," Lorenzo wrote on Facebook Friday morning. "But will continue to make content on the Aggressive Comix channel and will always strive to make Latino content. I love you all. Thank you for your support."

Ashley signaled her departure less directly.

"If there was ever to be a day that I would get a "~No Regretz~" neck tattoo, I think today would be that day," she wrote on Twitter.

Some employees told POLITICO they were taken aback by the firings, and said they weren't aware of the reach of the non-compete clause until Lorenzo and Ashley were fired. Others said that the non-compete clause is enforced unevenly by management, and that the agreement is vague about what constitutes as a competing project.

"It's a big gray area," one said. "There are a lot of people who do acting gigs on the side and haven't gotten in trouble."

Laura Zak, a writer, producer and actor who has appeared in several BuzzFeed shorts, called the firings "BS" on Twitter and criticized the company's non-compete agreements.

"Read your contracts, & don't be seduced by 'but, exposure!'" she tweeted.

According to people familiar with BuzzFeed's standard agreement, BuzzFeed Motion Pictures employees aren't allowed to work for companies considered to be competitors for three months after leaving the company. A similar non-compete policy at Law360 drew ire in February when a junior employee who had left Law360 for Reuters was fired over a non-compete agreement. At the time, The Wall Street Journal reported that New York attorney general Eric Schneiderman was investigating those types of non-compete agreements.

Update: Law360 announced Wednesday that it would stop making new employees sign non-compete agreements.

BuzzFeed has a strict exclusivity agreement for some of its most popular talent that is, according to The Hollywood Reporter, "designed to help [BuzzFeed Motion Pictures] retain its top talent even as they become internet sensations and begin to field offers from both traditional and digital suitors." But only a handful of BuzzFeed's biggest stars have signed that agreement, which is different from the standard contracts most BuzzFeed Motion Pictures employees are required to sign.

A spokesperson for BuzzFeed could not say how many people within BuzzFeed are required to sign non-compete and non-disclosure agreements.

BuzzFeed also owns the content its employees produce when working for the company. When web personality Matt Bellassai put BuzzFeed's popular "Wine About It" series on hiatus to pursue other opportunities, he had to leave the franchise behind. Lorenzo and Ashley, similarly, don't have the rights to the projects they worked on while at BuzzFeed.

Some people see that as the bigger reason to stay away from working at the company.

"I warn my bright young friends not to get involved with @BuzzFeedVideo," tweeted Jen Richards, the creator of web series Her Story who has previously appeared in BuzzFeed productions. "It's unrelentingly exploitative of their talent, drive, and hunger ... You're much better served in long run by creating your own content & owning it. You deserve better."

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Source: http://www.politico.com/media/story/2016/06/non-compete-agreements-buzzfeed-firings-004600