Why Elon Musk Is Calling to Boycott Netflix—and How Wall Street Reacted

If you’ve noticed the phrase “cancel Netflix” dominating your social media feeds today, you’re not alone. The streaming giant has suddenly found itself in the middle of a storm—one fueled by none other than Tesla and X (formerly Twitter) CEO Elon Musk. The controversy erupted after Musk reignited criticism of the animated series Dead End: Paranormal Park, a show canceled by Netflix back in 2023. His frustration centered on a character named Barry Guttman, who, at one point, comes out as transgender. Musk Joins the Boycott “This is not ok,” Musk wrote on X, attaching a clip from the show. He followed up with: > “Cancel Netflix for the health of your kids.” Musk also posted a screenshot proving he had personally canceled his subscription and continued amplifying his message by sharing clips from other Netflix shows with LGBTQ+ storylines. From Trend to Targeted Harassment The billionaire’s tweets pushed “cancel Netflix” to the number one trending topic on X, but the online movement quickly escalated into harassment directed at Dead End: Paranormal Park showrunner Hamish Steele. At first, Steele attempted humor: > “It’s all lies and slander! Netflix is NOT promoting my canceled series,” he joked. However, the mood shifted hours later when Steele revealed that he was receiving a flood of homophobic and antisemitic emails. He admitted the situation had become “a little scary,” apologizing to fans for needing to step back from public interactions. A Personal History Behind Musk’s Views Musk’s combative stance on trans rights isn’t new. His opposition appears to tie back to his strained relationship with his daughter, Vivian Wilson, who cut ties with him after coming out as transgender. Market Reaction Though it remains unclear whether Musk’s boycott will have a measurable impact on subscriber numbers, investors took note. Netflix stock slipped around two percent in the day following Musk’s campaign—a notable dip for one of the world’s biggest streaming platforms. What’s Next for Netflix? Netflix has not yet issued a formal response to Musk’s remarks. Still, the incident highlights how a single influential voice can stir cultural and financial waves, even over a series that hasn’t been on air for over a year.