Elon Musk has triggered a wave of Netflix cancellations after confirming he had cancelled his subscription in protest over controversy linked to Dead End: Paranormal Park creator Hamish Steele.
The uproar followed the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk on September 10, 2025.
UK Labour leader Keir Starmer issued a condolence message the same day, but by September 30, screenshots circulating online showed Steele allegedly replying with remarks dismissing Kirk as a “random Nazi.”
The posts quickly went viral, drawing backlash and renewed scrutiny of Netflix’s association with the show.
Dead End: Paranormal Park, which debuted in 2022 and was cancelled in 2023, features a transgender teenage protagonist.
Though rated TV-Y7 and recommended for audiences aged 10 and up by Common Sense Media, the series has long been debated over its LGBTQ+ themes in children’s programming.
The boycott gathered momentum when former U.S. energy official Matt Van Swol announced on X that he had cancelled his Netflix account, writing:
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“If you employ someone who celebrated the murder of Charlie Kirk and makes content that pushes pro-trans content on my kids… you will NEVER get a dime of my money.”
Musk amplified the post with a single-word reply “Same.” His endorsement gave the campaign global reach, as thousands of users began posting screenshots of their own cancellations under trending hashtags.
Netflix has not issued an official response to the controversy. Reports indicate Steele’s social media accounts were restricted after the screenshots went viral.
Industry watchers note that the incident highlights the influence of high-profile figures in shaping consumer behaviour, and how viral social media moments can rapidly escalate into boycotts with real business implications.