Musk urged millions to cancel Netflix “for the health of your kids,” sparking a viral debate.
Campaign began after Libs of TikTok flagged Netflix’s transgender-themed show Dead End: Paranormal Park.
Musk’s comments amplified conservative criticism of streaming platforms and “woke” content.
Elon Musk, billionaire entrepreneur and founder of Tesla, SpaceX, and X (formerly Twitter), is again at the centre of an internet storm. This time, Musk has urged his millions of followers to cancel their Netflix subscriptions, claiming it’s necessary “for the health of your kids.” His comments have fueled a viral ‘Cancel Netflix’ campaign, leading to debates around streaming platforms, children’s content, and cultural values.
SurveyFor the unversed, the campaign started on September 30 when Musk commented, “This is not ok” on a video clip shared by the right-wing account Libs of TikTok. The clip is from Netflix’s animated series ‘Dead End: Paranormal Park’, featuring the protagonist as transgender.
What is the ‘Cancel Netflix’ campaign?
The movement gained traction after a post by the controversial social media account Libs of TikTok, which accused Netflix of “pushing pro-transgender content on children.” The post triggered a wave of online backlash, with Musk amplifying the message through his own X account. His call to cancel Netflix quickly went viral, racking up over 53 million views and more than 390,000 likes within days.
Musk’s post simply read: “Cancel Netflix for the health of your kids.” It struck a chord with conservative-leaning audiences who have long criticised mainstream entertainment platforms for allegedly promoting “explicit” or “woke” content.
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Why is Musk backing this campaign?
This is not the first time Musk has clashed with cultural trends in the U.S. Over the past few years, he has repeatedly positioned himself as a critic of what he describes as “wokeism.” In this case, Musk doubled down by resharing a video from conservative commentator Benny Johnson, who accused Netflix of “sexualizing children” by packaging “explicit, graphic, radical sex topics” as entertainment. Musk commented that he “totally agreed” with Johnson’s assessment.
In follow-up posts, Musk responded to users who said they had already cancelled their Netflix memberships, signalling that he, too, had taken the same step. He also stressed that the campaign was about “fighting back and taking a stand.”
Although Netflix has yet to respond to the latest backlash officially, it cancelled ‘Dead End: Paranormal Park’ after two seasons and is no longer promoting the show.
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Himani Jha
Himani Jha is a tech news writer at Digit. Passionate about smartphones and consumer technology, she has contributed to leading publications such as Times Network, Gadgets 360, and Hindustan Times Tech for the past five years. When not immersed in gadgets, she enjoys exploring the vibrant culinary scene, discovering new cafes and restaurants, and indulging in her love for fine literature and timeless music. View Full Profile
