In a saga that has gripped both pop culture and political spheres, billionaire Elon Musk has ignited a fierce campaign against Netflix, urging millions of his followers to cancel their subscriptions. The controversy centers on the now-canceled animated series Dead End: Paranormal Park, a show featuring a transgender protagonist, as well as broader accusations about Netflix’s approach to diversity and children’s programming.
The spark for this uproar came on September 29, 2025, when the right-wing Libs of TikTok account posted a viral message on X (formerly Twitter), declaring, “OMG. Dead End Paranormal Park, a show on Netflix, is pushing pro-transgender on CHILDREN. This show is advertised for 7-YEAR-OLDS… Parents- BEWARE.” As Variety and The Economic Times reported, the post quickly racked up over 26 million views, setting off a firestorm of debate about the appropriateness of LGBTQ+ representation in children’s media.
Elon Musk, never one to shy away from a cultural flashpoint, jumped into the fray. Over the following days, he posted and reposted at least 26 times on X, amplifying calls for a Netflix boycott. On October 1, Musk wrote, “Cancel Netflix for the health of your kids,” and shared a cartoon meme depicting Netflix’s “transgender woke agenda” as a Trojan horse infiltrating a castle labeled “your kids.” Musk also echoed posts from other conservative voices, including Chaya Raichik of Libs of TikTok, podcaster Benny Johnson, and comedian Rob Schneider, who praised Musk for “standing up against the evil Trans indoctrination programming of our children on Netflix and Disney.”
The focus of the outrage, Dead End: Paranormal Park, is an animated show that premiered on Netflix in June 2022 and ran for two seasons before being canceled in January 2023. Created by British writer and producer Hamish Steele, the series follows two teens and a talking pug as they battle supernatural forces in a haunted theme park. The main character, Barney, is transgender—a fact that, according to Variety, has drawn both praise and criticism since the show’s debut. Notably, the show was rated TV-Y7, meaning it was deemed suitable for children aged seven and older.
The controversy escalated further when social media accounts alleged that Steele had celebrated the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was shot and killed at a Utah event on September 10, 2025. Screenshots circulated purportedly showing Steele mocking Kirk’s death, but Steele vehemently denied these claims. On Bluesky, he wrote, “My Instagram comments are now flooded with replies saying I AM CHARLIE KIRK and that I celebrated his death (which I never did).” He later added, “I will just say today is much much worse and I am going to basically be on the down low for the foreseeable.”
Steele also pushed back against the accusation that Netflix was actively promoting the show. “Netflix is NOT promoting [the show] at the moment!” he stated, describing the online campaign against him as “all lies and slander.” The creator reported receiving “extremely nasty weird homophobic and antisemitic emails,” which he said had become “a little scary.”
Despite the show’s cancellation nearly two years ago, the debate over its content and Netflix’s alleged agenda has only intensified. Musk and his supporters argue that Netflix is pushing “transgender propaganda” onto children, pointing to the platform’s past celebrations of Trans Day of Visibility and its diverse slate of programming. “Transgender propaganda isn’t just quietly lurking in the background on Netflix,” read one post promoted by Musk. “They are actively pushing it on users.” Musk replied “True” and “💯” to similar messages, further fueling the campaign.
Netflix, for its part, has remained largely silent on the matter. The company has declined to comment directly on Musk’s posts or the boycott campaign. However, its internal Culture Memo, as cited by Variety, offers some insight into its philosophy: “Representation matters. Our members come from many different backgrounds and cultures, and they want to see a wide variety of stories and people on screen. This diversity is wonderful and it can create real tension since we all have such different views about what’s acceptable — and what’s harmful — on TV.” The memo continues, “We support the artistic expression of the creators we choose to work with… Even if some stories run counter to our personal values.”
This is not the first time Netflix has faced backlash from conservative circles. In 2020, the film Cuties sparked a wave of cancellations over concerns about the sexualization of minors, though that storm eventually passed. More recently, Netflix’s defense of controversial comedians like Dave Chappelle and Tony Hinchcliffe has tested the company’s commitment to both free expression and inclusivity. In each case, Netflix has tried to walk a fine line—supporting diverse voices while weathering criticism from all sides.
The current campaign, however, comes at a time of heightened political polarization around issues of gender identity, children’s education, and media influence. Musk himself has a personal stake in the debate: his daughter, Vivian Wilson, came out as transgender in 2022, changed her name, and distanced herself from him. Musk has publicly lamented this, saying, “I lost my son, essentially,” and blaming what he calls the “woke mind virus.”
Reactions to Musk’s campaign have been predictably divided. Supporters, including some high-profile conservatives, see him as a champion standing up to what they view as dangerous social engineering. Detractors accuse Musk of hypocrisy, pointing out that his calls for a boycott amount to the very “cancel culture” he has often decried. As Tommy Vietor of Crooked Media quipped, “This guy went from calling himself a ‘free speech absolutist’ to the most reactionary, whiney little cancel culture loving bitch on the internet.”
Meanwhile, the practical impact of the boycott remains unclear. Netflix no longer reports subscriber numbers on a quarterly basis, making it difficult to gauge whether Musk’s campaign has had any measurable effect. The company’s stock and overall subscriber growth have weathered similar storms before, and with the ever-shifting landscape of streaming entertainment, it’s anyone’s guess how long this controversy will remain in the headlines.
For now, the battle lines are drawn—over a canceled cartoon, a billionaire’s tweets, and the ongoing culture war over who gets to shape the stories that children see. It’s a reminder that, in today’s hyperconnected world, even the smallest spark can ignite a firestorm.
