People are boycotting Netflix mainly due to political and cultural controversies centering around the platform promoting what is perceived by some as a "woke" or progressive agenda. Key reasons include:
- The creator of Netflix’s show "Dead End: Paranormal Park," Hamish Steele, made inflammatory social media remarks about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, which sparked outrage among right-wing and MAGA supporters who then called for cancelling Netflix subscriptions. Steele's show also features a transgender main character, which critics argue pushes a transgender agenda, particularly in kids' programming, causing backlash from conservative and parent groups worried about the content's influence on children.
- Elon Musk publicly canceled his Netflix subscription and called on his followers to do the same as a protest against the "woke" content and Steele's comments. Musk's involvement boosted the boycott movement among his large following, especially those aligned with MAGA and conservative ideologies.
- Netflix is criticized for supporting left-leaning politics, such as co-founder Reed Hastings donating $2 million to support California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat. This political stance has further fueled calls to cancel Netflix from right-wing groups, interpreting the platform as biased and promoting a liberal agenda.
- The boycott movement hashtags like #CancelNetflix have trended on social media with users encouraging others to unsubscribe to stop Netflix from continuing to produce what they see as "progressive" and politically motivated content.
In summary, the Netflix boycott in 2025 is primarily driven by politically motivated outrage over the platform's content choices including transgender representation in children's shows and perceived political bias, amplified by influencers like Elon Musk and conservative activist communities.
