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For those who’ve observed the phrase “cancel Netflix” in your social media feeds at the moment, you’re definitely not alone.
The streaming large is on the heart of a brand new controversy involving a little-known animation collection, which not too long ago got here beneath hearth from Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
The present, Useless Finish: Paranormal Park, was canceled by Netflix in 2023, however Musk not too long ago joined the marketing campaign to punish the service for ever carrying it in any respect.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk speaks alongside U.S. President Donald Trump to reporters within the Oval Workplace of the White Home on Could 30, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photograph by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Photographs)
Musk’s criticism stems from the truth that the collection featured a personality named Barry Guttman, who, at one level, comes out as transgender.
Elon Musk lashes out at canceled Netflix collection
“This is not ok,” Musk tweeted, together with a clip from the present. “Cancel Netflix for the health of your kids,” he added.
The billionaire X proprietor then posted a screenshot to show that he had canceled his personal Netflix account.
He later stored up his assault on the service, tweeting scenes from different exhibits that featured storylines that includes trans characters and repeating his requires a boycott.
White Home Senior Advisor to the President and Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk departs the U.S. Capitol Constructing on March 5, 2025 in Washington, DC. Musk was assembly with Republican senators at a closed door lunch. (Photograph by Andrew Harnik/Getty Photographs)
Not surprisingly, “cancel Netflix” shortly grew to become the highest trending matter on X, and the state of affairs led to harassment directed at Useless Finish: Paranormal Park showrunner, Hamish Steele.
Steele initially took the state of affairs in stride, joking that Netflix is by no means selling his canceled collection.
“It’s all lies and slander! Netflix is NOT promoting at the moment!” he wrote (through Deadline).
Simply hours later, Steele reported that the state of affairs had escalated to a daunting diploma.
Elon Musk speaks onstage throughout The New York Instances Dealbook Summit 2023 at Jazz at Lincoln Heart on November 29, 2023 in New York Metropolis. (Photograph by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Photographs for The New York Instances)
“I will just say today is much much worse and I am going to basically be on the down low for the foreseeable,” Steele continued, including, “My apologies.”
Musk has a protracted historical past of opposing trans rights, seemingly stemming from his fractured relationship with daughter Vivian Wilson.
Wilson says she is now not on talking phrases along with her father after popping out as trans.
Whereas it’s unimaginable to say how a lot of an impression Musk’s boycott has had when it comes to subscribers, Netflix’s inventory slid roughly two p.c within the day since he launched his warfare towards the model.