Elon Musk is keeping one thing straight. He wants you to cancel your Neflix subscription. The tech mogul’s call, which has quickly spread across social media, comes in response to a growing controversy involving Netflix’s animated series ‘Dead End: Paranormal Park,’ and more broadly, the company’s approach to LGBTQIA+ representation.
Musk’s campaign is not just about one show, it is part of a wider ideological battle over what some conservatives see as the growing influence of “woke” culture in media.
Why is Musk targeting Netflix?
The controversy began when Hamish Steele, the creator of ‘Dead End: Paranormal Park,’ made a post on social media referring to conservative activist Charlie Kirk as a “nazi” following his death.
Many conservatives found this comment deeply offensive. In the wake of the backlash, Musk joined the conversation.
He voiced his support for the boycott, not just because of Steele’s comments, but because of what he perceives as Netflix’s broader agenda of pushing “pro-trans propaganda” to children.
Musk framed this as a moral issue, and asked his followers to “Cancel Netflix for the health of your kids.”
Musk is a vocal critic of what he calls the “woke mind virus,” has long used his platform to challenge what he sees as a growing trend of left-leaning ideologies permeating media and culture.
Musk’s stance on LGBTQIA+ representation
Musk has long argued that companies should prioritise merit over diversity in hiring and content creation, and his attack on Netflix has followed that line of thought.
In addition to Steele’s controversial social media posts, Musk took aim at Netflix’s diversity initiatives, which highlight an increase in racially underrepresented actors and directors.
In a series of tweets, Musk accused Netflix of “discriminating against white people” by prioritising racial diversity over talent. He also pointed out that Netflix’s focus on diversity, inclusion, and representation could potentially harm the quality of content.
Social media platforms quickly lit up with users posting proof of their canceled subscriptions, and #CancelNetflix trended for several days.
Even Matt Van Swol, a former nuclear scientist, joined the movement, posting that he was terminating his subscription in protest of Steele’s comments and Netflix’s overall programming.
Netflix is yet to publicly address the controversy. LGBTQIA+ advocates have come out strongly in favour of the platform’s content, claiming that shows like ‘Dead End: Paranormal Park’ offer important representation for marginalised communities.