Elon Musk says he canceled his Netflix subscription and is telling others to do the identical over the presence of transgender characters in sequence that made their debut (and in some instances ended) years in the past. Earlier this week, Musk reshared a submit on X attacking Lifeless Finish: Paranormal Park, an animated sequence geared towards children, for that includes a transgender protagonist.
“This isn’t okay,” Musk wrote in just one of his posts focusing on the present and later reposted an image claiming Netflix has a “transgender woke agenda. He added, “Cancel Netflix for the well being of your children.” The primary season of Lifeless Finish: Paranormal Park aired on Netflix in 2022, but it surely was canceled in 2023.
Musk solely continued stoking the right-wing firestorm since then, with the billionaire calling on followers to get rid of their Netflix subscription over different sequence with trans characters, like The Child-Sitters Membership, which was canceled after two seasons in 2022. He additionally responded to a submit crucial of a 2023 episode of CoComelon Lane depicting a toddler attempting on a tutu and tiara. “Tremendous tousled for a children present!” Musk said.
Proper-wing influencers have ramped up their assaults towards variety in media, with some even criticizing Netflix for having extra lead characters and administrators from underrepresented teams. On the similar time, the Trump administration has deemed variety, fairness, and inclusivity (DEI) packages “unlawful” and banned gender-affirming care for youngsters. Consultant Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) has joined in on the strain marketing campaign, too, claiming Netflix is “pushing woke Democrat gender ideology.”
Media corporations are underneath rising strain from the administration, of which Musk was lately an worker. Brendan Carr, who helms the Federal Communications Fee, has already compelled corporations to remove DEI policies and loomed over Disney’s decision to suspend Jimmy Kimmel Reside! Whereas the FCC has much less direct leverage over streaming companies like Netflix, backlash from right-wing influencers and figureheads like Musk has a really actual affect on its business.