Elon Musk has once again plunged into the culture wars, this time targeting Netflix. Urging his 227 million followers on X, the platform he owns, Musk called on them to cancel their Netflix subscriptions, accusing the streaming giant of promoting what he termed “transgender propaganda.”
His remarks came as part of a broader boycott campaign that originated from the conservative social media account Libs of TikTok. The campaign specifically pointed to the animated series Dead End: Paranormal Park and Netflix’s corporate diversity initiatives as reasons to drop the service.
The controversy gained momentum after conservatives resurfaced remarks by the show’s creator, Hamish Steele, who allegedly made offensive comments about conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
These posts fueled the backlash, leading to fresh scrutiny of Netflix’s content and corporate ethos. As the storm grew, Netflix shares slid by two percent on Wednesday and faced another two percent decline on Thursday, showing how cultural disputes can ripple into the financial market.
Musk amplified the boycott by reposting content from Libs of TikTok that highlighted Netflix’s diversity report, which touted increases in the number of non-white directors and lead actors.
“Cancel Netflix,” Musk declared, later adding that dropping the service was necessary “for the health of your kids.” His statements reflect his ongoing clashes with progressive values, which he frequently associates with what he calls the “woke mind virus.”
Steele, who faced the brunt of online criticism, defended himself in a series of Bluesky posts, insisting the allegations were “all lies and slander.” The posts were later deleted, but the controversy had already intensified.
Musk’s personal history complicates his stance. His eldest daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, transitioned in 2022, severing ties with her father and legally changing her identity.
Musk has since argued that she was influenced by what he labels as ideological indoctrination at her school, framing his opposition to transgender advocacy as both political and deeply personal.
