October 2, 2025 – Tech billionaire Elon Musk has ignited a firestorm on social media by urging his followers to cancel their Netflix subscriptions, citing concerns over transgender and non-binary representation in the animated children’s series Dead End: Paranormal Park. The controversy escalated following a post by the show’s creator, Hamish Steele, in response to the recent death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Musk, who owns the social platform X (formerly Twitter), shared multiple posts on Wednesday criticizing the show for its inclusion of LGBTQ+ characters targeted at young audiences. He linked the content to broader debates about children’s programming, framing it as part of a larger cultural clash. “Time to cancel Netflix if you haven’t already,” Musk wrote in one post, which quickly garnered millions of views and amplified calls for a boycott.
The backlash stems from Steele’s social media remark after Kirk’s passing in late September 2025. While details of the comment were not specified, Musk referenced it as a catalyst for his scrutiny of the series. Dead End: Paranormal Park, which premiered in 2022 and features a transgender protagonist and non-binary supporting characters, has been praised by some for its inclusive storytelling but criticized by others for being inappropriate for kids.
The fallout was swift and measurable. Netflix’s stock (NFLX) plummeted nearly 3% on October 2, wiping out approximately $15 billion in market value amid the online uproar. Investors cited the boycott calls as a contributing factor, though broader market trends may have played a role.
Steele, the openly gay creator behind the show, reported facing a wave of online harassment in the wake of Musk’s posts. “This is not just about a TV show—it’s about real people being targeted,” Steele said in a statement, highlighting the personal toll of the controversy. Supporters of the series have rallied on X and other platforms, defending its themes as promoting diversity and empathy for young viewers.
Netflix has not yet issued an official response to the boycott calls or the stock dip. The streaming giant, which has faced similar criticisms in the past over content like Cuties in 2020, continues to emphasize its commitment to varied storytelling. As the debate rages on, it underscores ongoing tensions between free expression, corporate responsibility, and cultural representation in media aimed at children.
