Billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk, never one to shy away from stirring the pot online, sparked fresh controversy this week after urging his followers to cancel their Netflix subscriptions. The call came in response to the animated series Dead End: Paranormal Park and its creator, Hamish Steele.
On Wednesday, Musk posted on his platform X: “Cancel Netflix for the health of your children.” The comment was made under an image accusing Netflix of pushing a “transgender woke agenda.” Musk had already announced he’d ditched his own subscription—an act many of his supporters quickly echoed.
At the center of the storm is Dead End: Paranormal Park, a Netflix cartoon that debuted in 2022 featuring a teenage trans protagonist. The show ran for two seasons before being canceled in 2023, but it remains a flashpoint for conservative backlash.
Steele, the show’s creator, responded with understated humor on rival platform Bluesky: “It’s probably going to be a very strange day.” He also shared a supportive post from writer Jack Bernhardt, who praised the series as “a wonderful show with kind, brilliant characters.”
Meanwhile, Netflix shares dipped about 2% Wednesday morning amid broader market volatility.
The clash highlights the contradictions in Musk’s personal life and public persona. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO has a 21-year-old transgender daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, with whom he is estranged.
He has previously blamed what he calls the “woke mind virus” for “killing” his relationship with her—remarks that have drawn sharp criticism, including from his daughter herself.
