"Cancel Netflix": Elon Musk escalates his cultural war against the streaming giant

The billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has once again placed himself at the center of cultural debate by making a public call to cancel subscriptions to Netflix, accusing the platform of promoting “transgender” and “woke” ideologies in content aimed at minors.

“Cancel Netflix for the health of your children,” Musk wrote on X, accompanying the message with a cartoon depicting the company as a Trojan horse introducing a “woke trans agenda” among children.

The trigger: a children's series featuring a transgender character

Musk's latest offensive targeted the animated series "Dead End: Paranormal Park," whose main character is transgender. The show's creator, Hamish Steele, came under attack on social media, and Musk labeled him a "groomer" (a derogatory term implying manipulation of minors) after messages attributed to Steele circulated online in which he criticized conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Musk has accused Netflix of using children's productions to spread ideologies he does not agree with, aligning with his campaign against what he refers to as the “woke virus.”

Netflix remains silent

So far, Netflix has not publicly responded to Musk's comments.

Hamish Steele, on the other hand, stated that since the controversy began, he has received homophobic and antisemitic emails after becoming the target of a wave of online attacks, according to Telemundo.

Reactions on social media and financial impact

Musk's message had an immediate impact on social media, where the phrase "Cancel Netflix" trended, with numerous users sharing screenshots of their cancellations.

Financial media reported a drop in the value of Netflix shares following the viral nature of the campaign.

A sustained ideological confrontation

This is not the first time Musk has taken aim at Netflix. In April 2022, following a drop in subscriber numbers, he wrote:

"The woke virus is making Netflix impossible to watch."

Since then, the businessman has maintained a consistent discourse against what he considers a "dangerous ideology" that spreads "like a disease" and threatens values such as freedom of expression and meritocracy.

Musk has broadened his criticisms to companies like Disney and Meta, linking this stance to personal experiences, such as his estrangement from his trans daughter, which he attributes to gender identity policies.

Part of a broader campaign

The attack on Netflix is part of a broader campaign that Musk has led against what he calls “cultural impositions.” In November 2023, for example, he publicly targeted Disney CEO Bob Iger, and in September 2025, he labeled the Anti-Defamation League a “hate group.”

Since his statement in 2022 to his recent call for a boycott, Musk has reinforced his image as one of the most visible voices against corporations that embrace "woke" policies, positioning himself at the epicenter of the contemporary cultural war in the United States.

Frequently asked questions about the controversy between Elon Musk and Netflix