Trans character and Charlie Kirk jibes prompt campaign to cancel Netflix for airing kids’ cartoon series Dead End Paranormal Park
Elon Musk has told his 227 million followers on X to cancel Netflix – causing its share price to sharply drop – amid a revolt over a ‘pro-transgender’ kids’ cartoon.
Netflix cartoon series Dead End: Paranormal Park has been accused of “pushing pro-transgender on children” by an influential US conservative lobby group.
Now a push for viewers to boycott Netflix is gaining momentum after billionaire Elon Musk signalled he was going to cancel his subscription – causing a 2.3 per cent plunge in the streaming giant’s share price. Netflix’s market value is now $8.5bn lower than a week ago.
The furore unfolded after show’s creator, Hamish Steele, allegedly posted abusive comments about Charlie Kirk on the social media platform Bluesky
According to screen shots widely reported in the US, posts alleged to be on Steele’s account attacked UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer for calling Kirk’s death “heartbreaking”.
One post read: “Why the f--- are you even commenting on this, dickhead? You (sic) sympathy for any of the families being slaughtered by your weapons but a random Nazi gets shot and it’s a public statement. You’re such a f------ evil s---.”
The tweets have since been taken down and Steele, who identifies as “he/they/whatever”, has denied celebrating Kirk’s death.
It follows the temporary cancellation of Jimmy Kimmel’s TV show following his controversial comments about Kirk’s death.
A clip from the Dead End series showing character Barney Guttman coming out as transgender to another character has been shared by conservatives on the Libs of TikTok account.
The post reads: “OMG Dead End Paranormal Park, a show on Netflix, is pushing pro-transgender on CHILDREN. This show is advertised for 7-YEAR-OLDS. It’s being promoted on @netflix kids now. Parents – BEWARE.”
Steele himself shared the post, noting “It’s probably going to be a very odd day”.
Musk shared it and tweeted “this is not okay and “cancel Netflix for the health of your kids”.
Dead End Paranormal Park aired for two seasons on Netflix and ended in 2023.
Steele denies Netflix is promoting the show at present, although episodes are available for viewing.
The latest figures from Roy Morgan shows Netflix has 14,339,000 viewers – 63 per cent of Australians. This is double any other streaming video service.
Netflix has been contacted for comment.
The latest moves by the conservative right reflects a growing push against the transgender community in the US.
Analysis by Monash University Professor of Law Paula Gerber in February found US President Donald Trump has directly and indirectly targeted the trans community since coming to office.
Professor Gerber said that despite moves overseas to repeal protections for transgender people, Australian law made it unlawful to discriminate against trans people on the basis of their gender.
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Originally published as Trans character and Charlie Kirk jibes prompt campaign to cancel Netflix for airing kids’ cartoon series Dead End Paranormal Park
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