In a swift escalation that's rippling across social media, Netflix faces a growing wave of subscription cancellations sparked by controversial comments from animator Hamish Steele. The uproar centers on Steele, the creator behind the now-discontinued animated series Dead End: Paranormal Park, which features a transgender character and has long drawn criticism from conservative circles for its "woke" themes aimed at young audiences.
Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla and owner of X (formerly Twitter), threw fuel on the fire this week. On September 30, 2025, Musk announced he had canceled his own Netflix account, replying simply "Same" to a user's post decrying the platform's content. He doubled down, urging followers to "Cancel Netflix for the health of your kids" in response to accusations of pushing transgender ideology on children. By October 1, the #CancelNetflix hashtag was trending, with users posting screenshots of their cancellations—hundreds, if not thousands, by early reports.
However, the trigger wasn't just the show's portrayal of LGBTQ+ themes. It was Steele's alleged online mockery of Charlie Kirk, the slain right-wing activist and Trump ally assassinated last month. Steele reportedly called Kirk a "random Nazi" in posts that celebrated his death, prompting backlash from Musk and figures like the Libs of TikTok account. Indeed, the controversy has unearthed deeper divides, with critics accusing Netflix of platforming harmful rhetoric while supporters defend Steele's free speech.
Steele himself addressed the storm on Bluesky, noting he'd received a barrage of homophobic and antisemitic emails but found some of the online frenzy "quite funny." Netflix, for its part, has stayed silent, even as the boycott gains steam. Moreover, this isn't isolated; Musk's personal stake—his criticisms of transgender issues tied to his own family—adds a layer of intensity to his call to action.
Yet, the real impact remains unclear amid the digital noise. As cancellations mount, one wonders if this fleeting outrage will dent Netflix's 280 million global subscribers or merely amplify the platform's polarizing role in culture wars.