The reboot of the beloved series ‘Little House on the Prairie’ is stirring up controversy, especially following comments from former Fox News host Megyn Kelly, who expressed concerns about the new adaptation potentially being too 'woke.' On February 1, 2025, Kelly took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to voice her discontent. She tweeted, "Netflix, if you woke-ify ‘Little House on the Prairie’ I will make it my singular mission to absolutely ruin your project," linking to a Hollywood Reporter piece announcing the reboot.
Her harsh critiques didn’t go unnoticed. Actress Melissa Gilbert, known for her role as Laura Ingalls on the original NBC show, responded with grace and insight, reminding followers of the original series' deep treatment of serious themes. Gilbert pointed out the hypocrisy of claiming the new version could become too liberal when the original series had already tackled complex subjects such as racism, addiction, nativism, and even domestic violence.
"Apparently Megyn tweeted (I’m not on X) asking Netflix not to ‘woke-ify' their Little House remake,” she wrote on Instagram. “Ummm … watch the original again. TV doesn’t get too much more ‘woke’ than we did.” Gilbert urged viewers to revisit the past episodes, emphasizing the series addressed various forms of social issues before they became mainstream topics.
Supporting Gilbert’s stance, actor Cheyenne Jackson and producer Gary Janetti were among the many who expressed solidarity with her defense, using humor to poke fun at Kelly's apprehensions. Rachel Dratch, former star of Saturday Night Live, lightheartedly remarked, “To everyone in the comments worrying about drag queens in this new version, come on … and put your hands together for LEMON VERBENA!!!!” referencing the perfume worn by the character Miss Beadle from the original show.
The original show aired from 1974 to 1983 and has found renewed life on streaming services. Recent stats reveal it has accumulated over 13 billion minutes of streaming on Peacock, underscoring its lasting impact and current relevance to audiences.
Details of the reboot remain sparse, yet Netflix has confirmed Rebecca Sonnenshine, known for her work on ‘Vampire Diaries,’ is leading the project. She stated, “I fell deeply in love with the books when I was 5 years old — and it inspired me to become a writer and filmmaker.” Sonnenshine hopes to present ‘Little House on the Prairie’ through a modern lens, potentially exploring new and diverse narratives within this iconic story of American pioneers.
While some remain skeptical about the reboot's direction, the original series exemplified how popular media can address significant societal issues. Melissa Gilbert’s prompt to revisit the original series provides clarity: she's not just defending nostalgia but advocating for multiple perspectives within storytelling.
With the reboot generating mixed reactions from fans and industry voices alike, only time will tell how this modern interpretation will resonate with today's audiences. Until then, Gilbert’s reminder to reflect on the original serves as both nostalgia and challenge, pushing for inclusivity and authenticity rather than exclusion disguised as tradition.