Elon Musk spurs Netflix cancellation calls over LGBTQ+ content in children's shows

Elon Musk has amplified calls for Netflix subscribers to cancel their accounts, citing the streaming service's inclusion of LGBTQ+ themes and characters in children's programming, particularly focusing on a transgender character in "Dead End: Paranormal Park" and a trans-affirming storyline in "The Baby-Sitters Club."

2 oct 2025 - 22:59 • 2 min read

Elon Musk, the owner of X (formerly Twitter), has been actively encouraging his millions of followers to cancel their Netflix subscriptions, alleging the streaming service promotes a "woke bias" and includes LGBTQ+ characters in content aimed at children.

Musk has reposted numerous calls to boycott Netflix, framing its content as an agenda to "brainwash children" with LGBTQ+ supportive material. This campaign has gained significant traction, with the associated posts accumulating tens of millions of views.

The controversy appears to stem from at least two specific shows. In "Dead End: Paranormal Park," a Netflix animated series rated TV-Y7 (suitable for ages 7 and older), the character Barney is transgender. A clip shared by the rightwing activist account Libs of TikTok highlighted this, with the post claiming the show pushes pro-transgender content on children.

Zach Barack, the openly transgender voice actor for Barney, responded to Musk's narrative on X, stating that the show has been life-saving for children and parents. "Dead End: Paranormal Park" originally ran for 20 episodes in 2022 and was canceled by Netflix the following year.

Another series drawing Musk's attention is "The Baby-Sitters Club." A specific episode, "Mary Anne Fixes Things," from the first season reportedly features a storyline where the character Bailey Delvecchio, who is transgender, is misgendered by hospital staff. The character Mary Anne intervenes, explaining to the medical professionals that Bailey is not a boy and that referring to them as such is invalidating.

Musk's criticism aligns with a broader anti-woke campaign often spearheaded by conservative accounts and amplified by the billionaire. He has also commented on Netflix's diversity and inclusion initiatives and shared articles highlighting LGBTQ+ visibility on the platform.

This is not the first time Netflix has faced backlash for its content. In 2020, the film "Cuties" sparked outrage, leading to a temporary spike in subscription cancellations. More recently, in 2021, the company defended comedian Dave Chappelle after his special "The Closer" contained anti-transgender remarks, leading to employee protests.

Notably, Musk is the father of a transgender daughter, Vivian Wilson, who has publicly distanced herself from him, stating she no longer wishes to be related to her father. Musk has previously spoken about losing his son and claimed he was "tricked" into supporting gender-affirming care for Wilson, whom he described as being "killed by the woke mind virus."

Netflix has not issued a public response to Musk's recent calls for boycotts.