Netflix is facing a wave of cancellations after controversy erupted online this week, with high-profile figures and everyday users posting screenshots of their terminated memberships. The viral trend, which has gained massive traction on X (formerly Twitter), took a bigger turn when Elon Musk himself confirmed he canceled his subscription.
The trend started when users began sharing screenshots of their Netflix cancellation pages, often paired with the phrase “This is the way,” a nod to The Mandalorian. Sports analyst Matthew Berry was one of the first to post, showing his membership, active since 2010, was set to end on October 11, 2025. Soon, more users followed suit, including influencers, podcast hosts, and other verified accounts, many citing dissatisfaction with Netflix’s programming choices. One user even posted a tongue-in-cheek chart showing Netflix stock “crashing” to zero after the mass exits. Another responded, “Who actually watches Netflix at this point? It’s a bunch of woke garbage.”
On Wednesday, Elon Musk responded directly to the viral trend, confirming he, too, canceled his Netflix subscription. Musk, who has never shied away from weighing in on pop culture battles, reposted a screenshot of a cancellation notice and wrote, “Same.” He also criticized Netflix’s direction in other posts, echoing complaints from others who claimed the streamer had strayed too far from its original storytelling roots.
Elon Musk Doubles Down With Criticism
In additional posts, Musk went further by backing comments from British lawyer and activist James Esses, who accused Netflix of using its platform to promote “transgender propaganda.” Musk replied “True” to one of Esses’ posts and added a “100” emoji to another that called Netflix “an activist outfit, hellbent on ideological indoctrination.” Esses’ message referenced the streamer’s Fund for Creative Equity, which has provided support to initiatives including the Transgender Film Centre to help bring more trans-made stories to the screen. By amplifying those posts, Musk made clear that his decision to cancel wasn’t just about the general backlash over declining content quality, but also about Netflix’s financial and creative backing of transgender representation.
The movement comes after a heated debate online regarding Netflix’s programming. Some users accused the platform of pushing “woke” or “politically motivated” content, while others simply argued that the quality of writing and storytelling had declined. One viral post read, “The art of storytelling is almost nonexistent at Netflix. Only reason to keep it around was the older, actually well-written shows. But I can live without.” Another post alleged that Netflix employed creators who celebrated controversial public figures’ deaths, further fueling anger.
Netflix has not yet issued a formal response to the viral boycott.
