Elon Musk, renowned for his immense wealth and self-designated title of “free speech absolutist,” has recently directed significant attention towards urging cancellations of Netflix subscriptions. He levies accusations of “woke bias” against the streaming service for its inclusion of LGBTQ+ characters, framing this as a rallying point for his millions of followers.
With a net worth approximating $500 billion, Musk has utilized his platform, X, to strongly advocate for the cancellation of Netflix accounts. His critique has intensified over the past three days, during which he has made or shared statements promoting the boycott of Netflix’s content at least 26 times. This escalating campaign appears to be prompted by a clip from the Netflix show “Dead End: Paranormal Park,” wherein a character identifies as transgender. Musk’s initial post on Tuesday included the remark “this is not ok,” referencing the clip shared by the rightwing activist account Libs of TikTok, which claims the show pushes pro-transgender narratives targeted at children.
In response to Musk’s assertions, Zach Barack, the voice actor behind the character Barney in the show and a pioneering figure in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as its first openly transgender actor, publicly challenged Musk’s narrative. He stated that many children and parents have expressed how the content has positively impacted their lives.
In the subsequent days, Musk has continued to amplify messages from users who have canceled their Netflix accounts due to his concerns over LGBTQ+ representation. He has posted phrases urging others to “Cancel Netflix for the health of your kids,” supporting a meme that equates Netflix’s purported “transgender woke agenda” with a Trojan horse aimed at children. Reposting claims of overt LGBTQ+ advocacy in programs such as “The Baby-Sitters Club” and “Cocomelon,” Musk has also criticized Netflix’s hiring practices, alleging they are biased against white individuals, and propagated falsehoods regarding the political donations made by Netflix employees.
Musk’s position is further complicated by his relationship with his own family, particularly his trans daughter, Vivian Wilson, who has been vocally critical of her father’s anti-trans campaign. In her legal petition last year to change her name and gender, Wilson expressed her desire to separate from her father entirely. Musk has since remarked on his feelings of loss regarding their relationship, framing it as a consequence of what he describes as the “woke mind virus.”
Despite these intense criticisms from Musk, Netflix has not issued any official response to his comments. The company has a history of invoking free speech principles in its defense against various controversies. In the past, backlash surrounding other content, such as the film “Cuties,” led to notable subscription cancellations, though these declines were often temporary. Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos has previously defended the platform’s choices regarding content, even in the face of significant backlash, including the employee protests following comedian Dave Chappelle’s comments targeted at transgender individuals.
Musk’s drive to incite mass cancellations mirrors wider tensions surrounding content in media and entertainment, particularly regarding issues of representation and freedom of speech. This current campaign follows an unrelated controversy in Hollywood concerning Disney’s brief suspension of Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show amid pressure from political figures, highlighting how these thematic conflicts continue to spark debate and division among audiences and creators alike.
