Under the umbrella of his production company, Khalabo Ink Society, Barris has signed multiple massive deals with media companies to expand his creative footprint.
According to a report by Variety, Barris inked a $100 million deal with Netflix to produce exclusive series for the company.
However, in 2021, The Hollywood Reporter noted that the creative star announced he was departing from his Netflix deal to take on a stake in BET Studios — a platform designed to “offer Black creatives an equity stake and a place to produce for outlets within and outside the media conglomerate.”
“Kenya Barris — who left a nine-figure Netflix deal for a stake in the venture — Rashida Jones and ‘SWAT’ co-creator Aaron Rahsaan Thomas will be principal partners in BET Studios. Former Warner Bros. TV executive Aisha Summers Burke will head the studio as executive vp and general manager,” the outlet reported at the time.
In 2022, Barris shared with The Hollywood Reporter that he made the right move.
“Everything worked out,” Barris said in an interview with the outlet. “I just got two shows on at Netflix. I have a movie, a very, very expensive movie at Netflix.”
