Elon Musk is leading a pressure campaign to make Netflix un-woke

Elon Musk says he canceled his Netflix subscription and is telling others to do the same over the presence of transgender characters in series that made their debut (and in some cases ended) years ago. Earlier this week, Musk reshared a post on X attacking Dead End: Paranormal Park, an animated series geared toward kids, for featuring a transgender protagonist.

“This is not okay,” Musk wrote in just one of his posts targeting the show and later reposted an image claiming Netflix has a “transgender woke agenda. He added, “Cancel Netflix for the health of your kids.” The first season of Dead End: Paranormal Park aired on Netflix in 2022, but it was canceled in 2023.

Musk only continued stoking the right-wing firestorm since then, with the billionaire calling on followers to get rid of their Netflix subscription over other series with trans characters, like The Baby-Sitters Club, which was canceled after two seasons in 2022. He also responded to a post critical of a 2023 episode of CoComelon Lane depicting a child trying on a tutu and tiara. “Super messed up for a kids show!” Musk said.

Right-wing influencers have ramped up their attacks against diversity in media, with some even criticizing Netflix for having more lead characters and directors from underrepresented groups. At the same time, the Trump administration has deemed diversity, equity, and inclusivity (DEI) programs “illegal” and banned gender-affirming care for children. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) has joined in on the pressure campaign, too, claiming Netflix is “pushing woke Democrat gender ideology.”

Media companies are under increasing pressure from the administration, of which Musk was recently an employee. Brendan Carr, who helms the Federal Communications Commission, has already compelled companies to remove DEI policies and loomed over Disney’s decision to suspend Jimmy Kimmel Live! While the FCC has less direct leverage over streaming services like Netflix, backlash from right-wing influencers and figureheads like Musk has a very real impact on its business.