On Wednesday morning, Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and one of the most prominent and outspoken figures in contemporary technology and culture, delivered a pointed message to his massive base of social‑media followers. He urged them, in stark and simple terms, to consider canceling their Netflix subscriptions, framing the decision as one that could safeguard the well‑being of their children. This recommendation was not offered casually; it came in direct reaction to online criticisms surrounding a Netflix animated series that features a transgender teenage character as its protagonist, a creative choice that has drawn both praise and condemnation across cultural and political lines.
The billionaire entrepreneur had already hinted the previous day that he himself had discontinued his personal subscription to the platform, thereby lending weight to his remarks. This episode represents yet another instance in which Musk, whose influence reaches hundreds of millions of users worldwide on the platform X (formerly Twitter), has not only expressed a personal preference but also encouraged an active, collective response from his audience, situating himself firmly within the wider cultural and ideological disputes often described as the modern “culture wars.”
The timing of Musk’s pointed criticism coincided with a moment of volatility for Netflix’s stock price, which dipped roughly two percent over the course of the day. While such market fluctuations can be attributed to a variety of external factors, Musk’s public comments added further scrutiny to a company already facing pushback. His remarks aligned with recent calls from other prominent accounts on X, such as the well‑known @LibsofTikTok page, which has been vocal in condemning Netflix’s animated production *Dead End: Paranormal Park*, created by British writer and animator Hamish Steele. Critics of the program argue that it promotes transgender narratives to young viewers, an accusation Musk himself amplified by reposting and endorsing content from those accounts. Some of these critics shared screenshots that appeared to show Steele making disparaging remarks about conservative commentator Charlie Kirk following his passing, although Business Insider reported being unable to independently verify the authenticity of those comments after Steele set his personal account to private. When contacted for his perspective, Steele did not respond to requests for comment.
*Dead End: Paranormal Park*, which blended fantasy, horror, and humor in a colorful animated format, premiered on Netflix in 2022 and continued for two seasons. In 2023, Steele publicly announced that the series had been canceled. Following Musk’s reposts and statements this week, Steele remarked on BlueSky, another social‑media platform, that it was probably shaping up to be a very unusual day, even sharing a screenshot of the Tesla CEO amplifying @LibsofTikTok’s criticism of his work.
While analysts have yet to determine whether Musk’s campaign will have any measurable impact on Netflix’s subscriber base, some X users have claimed to follow through on his suggestion, posting screenshots of their account cancellation confirmations or declaring intentions to abandon the platform. Coinciding with the uproar, Google Trends revealed a noticeable surge in searches for the phrase “cancel Netflix,” further underscoring the reach Musk’s words can have. Netflix, for its part, did not immediately release a formal response to Business Insider’s inquiries regarding the controversy.
This confrontation between Musk and Netflix also carries an additional layer of personal context. Musk has a 21‑year‑old transgender daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, with whom he has become estranged. Over the past several years, the billionaire has frequently voiced criticisms of transgender identities and related activism, both online and in public interviews. In a widely discussed 2024 conversation with Canadian psychologist Jordan Peterson, Musk lamented his daughter’s transition, claiming that what he calls the “woke mind virus” had effectively destroyed his relationship with her. Vivian, on the other hand, has publicly rejected and pushed back against her father’s views in various statements and interviews.
Netflix is no stranger to controversy of this nature. In 2021, the streaming giant faced considerable backlash after releasing comedy specials from Dave Chappelle that contained jokes perceived by many as transphobic. At that time, co‑CEO Ted Sarandos addressed the outcry directly, acknowledging the impossibility of satisfying all viewers in a global audience composed of diverse perspectives, beliefs, and cultural sensitivities. Sarandos emphasized Netflix’s dual commitments: upholding artistic freedom for creators while also recognizing the pluralism of its user base. His statement underscored the inherent challenges streaming platforms face as they attempt to balance the demand for creative autonomy with the mounting pressure of cultural responsibility.
Musk’s targeting of Netflix fits into a broader pattern of his combative engagements with large media or technology companies. In recent years, he has vocally encouraged the deletion of Facebook profiles, criticized Apple to the point of threatening to prohibit iPhones within Tesla facilities over Apple’s ties to the artificial intelligence company OpenAI, and publicly called for defunding National Public Radio after NPR withdrew from regular activity on X. These instances demonstrate Musk’s willingness not merely to share opinions but to wield his extraordinarily large public platform in ways that can prompt widespread boycotts, brand re‑evaluations, and intense public reflection on corporate practices.
In this particular case, his admonition regarding Netflix weaves together threads of personal conflict, ideological opposition, and consumer activism, creating yet another highly visible moment in Musk’s ongoing role as both a cultural provocateur and a business leader whose influence extends far beyond the industries he directly operates within.
Sourse: https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-says-cancel-netflix-2025-10
