Tesla CEO Elon Musk has canceled his Netflix subscription, a move that has generated headlines worldwide and intensified criticism of the streaming giant.
Musk’s decision was not linked to subscription fees but rather to controversy surrounding Hamish Steele, the British animation director behind the Netflix animated series Dead End: Paranormal Park.
The backlash stems from resurfaced social media posts allegedly made by Steele, in which he reportedly used profanity against conservative commentator Charlie Kirk after his death, and allegedly mocked him while calling him a “nazi.” Steele has since denied the accusations, describing the claims as “lies and slander” and insisting he never celebrated Kirk’s death.
The controversy deepened after clips from Dead End: Paranormal Park circulated online, drawing criticism from conservatives for featuring LGBTQ+ and transgender characters. Critics accused Netflix of promoting “pro-trans ideology for children.”
The issue gained traction when Matt Van Swollen, a former U.S. Department of Energy scientist, posted on X (formerly Twitter) that he had canceled Netflix over Steele’s alleged remarks. Musk replied, “Same,” confirming that he had canceled his own subscription.
Musk later posted: “Cancel Netflix for the health of your kids,” directly linking his decision to ideological objections about Netflix’s content. He also referred to Steele as a “groomer” and connected the debate to his own family, citing the gender transition of his daughter Vivien as influenced by what he calls a “woke mind virus.”
The controversy has already impacted Netflix, with its stock dropping by about 2–2.4% in pre-market trading. Social media campaigns under the hashtag #CancelNetflix surged, with users posting screenshots of canceled accounts.
Although Dead End: Paranormal Park was canceled in 2023, it remains available on Netflix and has become central to the ongoing criticism.
Musk’s framing of the issue suggests his stance goes beyond Steele’s alleged posts. By invoking the “health of kids” and broader ideological concerns, Musk has positioned his move as part of a wider critique of Netflix’s cultural direction and content strategy.
Report by: Gborogen Rejoice | Edited by: Chris Odjomah