People are boycotting Disney Plus for several key reasons in 2025:
- Political and Social Activism Backlash: Conservatives and right-wing groups have encouraged canceling Disney Plus because Disney CEO Bob Iger and the company participated in a boycott of advertising on Elon Musk's X platform (formerly Twitter). Musk escalated tensions by using profane language toward Disney and other advertisers, prompting free speech supporters and Musk's followers to cancel subscriptions in protest against Disney's stance. This boycott has been heavily promoted on social media by accounts opposing "wokeness" and supporting Musk as a free speech advocate.
- LGBTQ+ and Inclusion Issues: Disney has been at the center of controversy for its support of LGBTQ+ rights and diversity initiatives, including achieving perfect scores on Human Rights Campaign equality indexes. Conservative groups opposed these stances and have criticized Disney for being "woke" and promoting gender-related and inclusion policies that they reject. Some boycotts aim at the perceived "woke takeover" of corporate culture by Disney.
- Pricing Increases and Service Value: Another significant reason for Disney+ cancellations is the rising subscription fees. Users have expressed dissatisfaction with the price hikes, which have made the service more expensive over recent years, sparking many to cancel for economic reasons despite being longtime customers.
- Other Ethical and Cultural Criticisms: Some boycott campaigns stem from broader ethical concerns, such as Disney's business practices, worker treatment in its theme parks and productions, lack of diverse and authentic cultural representation, and allegations related to supporting Israeli policies seen as controversial by some activists. These factors contribute to calls for boycotting Disney products altogether.
In summary, the Disney Plus boycott in 2025 is fueled by a combination of political disputes involving Elon Musk and social media advertising, ongoing culture wars centered on inclusion and LGBTQ+ rights, economic factors like price increases, and ethical concerns about Disney's corporate behavior and cultural influence.
