Elon Musk Calls for Canceling Netflix Over Trans Character

Does it feel like only one side of the aisle is standing up against inappropriate children’s content these days? Well, recent events involving Tesla CEO Elon Musk and streaming giant Netflix might just prove that point.

Musk made headlines when he publicly announced that he had canceled his Netflix subscription over concerns about transgender-related content in kids’ shows. Not stopping there, he also encouraged others to follow suit. The impact of his call to action was clear as Netflix’s stock took a hit, dropping over 2%.

As a mom of four, I totally get where Musk is coming from. With a massive user base of nearly 300 million worldwide, Netflix wields considerable influence. Seeing gender or sexually charged themes in content targeted at children just doesn’t sit right with me—it feels unnecessary and inappropriate.

The call for a boycott gained momentum after revelations that a Netflix animated series, “Dead End: Paranormal Park,” included a transgender character. Even though the show ended after two seasons in 2022, it has remained on the platform. Rated TV-Y7, meant for kids seven and up, these kinds of storylines just aren’t typical for children’s programming.

Another Netflix show, “Transformers: Earthspark,” faced criticism for introducing a nonbinary character in 2023. The fact is, it’s quite unusual for young children to grapple with gender identity or sexual orientation themes—especially before hitting puberty. Research from 2023 supports this, showing that gender dysphoria is relatively rare among young kids.

Hopefully, events like these will prompt more discussion and reflection on what’s appropriate for young audiences, sparking positive change in the world of children’s entertainment.