MAGA targets Disney and Netflix in widespread cancellation campaign
Conservative activists have launched coordinated boycotts of major entertainment companies in recent months, with Disney and Netflix experiencing significant subscription cancellations following controversies over content and political statements that the movement deems inappropriate or offensive.
Disney’s streaming services saw a dramatic spike in cancellations during September, with approximately 3 million people canceling Disney+ subscriptions and 4.1 million dropping Hulu, roughly double the average cancellation rates from the previous three months, according to data from entertainment analysis company Antenna. The surge coincided with ABC’s temporary suspension of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” after the host made controversial remarks about the political leanings of the alleged assassin of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
The cancellation rate for Disney+ jumped from 4 percent in August to 8 percent in September, while Hulu’s rate rose from 5 percent to 10 percent during the same period. Despite the boycott-driven cancellations, both services recorded strong subscription additions in September, with Disney+ gaining a net total of 2.18 million new subscribers and Hulu adding 2.11 million, offsetting the losses.
Netflix faces renewed backlash
Netflix has drawn criticism from MAGA activists and prominent figures, including Elon Musk, who called for a boycott over the platform’s LGBTQ+ content in children’s programming. Conservative social media accounts highlighted LGBTQ+ characters from shows including “Cocomelon,” “Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous,” and the discontinued animated series “Dead End: Paranormal Park,” which features a transgender protagonist.
“Netflix is deliberately choosing to pay people to create sexualized content for children,” Musk posted on X on October 3, announcing he had canceled his subscription and urging his more than 226 million followers to do the same.
Netflix’s stock experienced a nearly 2 percent drop following Musk’s posts, though the direct relationship between the decline and subscription cancellations remains uncertain. The campaign represents the latest in a series of conservative boycotts targeting Netflix, including previous efforts around the French film “Cuties” that burned out after just a few days.
Broader cultural campaign
The movement has expanded its target list rapidly, going beyond streaming services to include the National Football League over its selection of Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny as the Super Bowl halftime show performer. Activists took issue with Bad Bunny’s use of Spanish and gender-fluid wardrobe, arguing the NFL should instead select someone who sings in English and has more traditional gender performances.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell defended the decision on Wednesday, stating that Bad Bunny is “one of the leading and most popular entertainers in the world” and that the selection was “carefully thought through”. President Donald Trump criticized the selection during an appearance on Newsmax, saying, “I don’t know who he is. I don’t know why they’re doing it—it’s, like, crazy”.
Wikipedia also became a target after the site’s co-founder listed conservative outlets, including Breitbart, Daily Caller, Epoch Times, Fox News, and The Federalist, among sites allegedly “blacklisted” from being used as sources on the platform.
Historical context and effectiveness
Boycotts of major media companies are traditionally short-lived, often catching fire briefly on social media before fading. A high-profile Facebook advertising boycott during the summer of 2020 lasted only one month and barely affected the company’s revenue. Laura Loomer, a prominent MAGA activist, expressed skepticism about the repeated campaigns, telling Axios: “How many times are we going to boycott Netflix, right? I thought that conservatives have already done this, like, six times. It just shows that it’s all for likes and clicks”.
“It’s kind of absurd,” Loomer added.
However, conservatives have achieved some successes in building alternative platforms and products. The Daily Wire has built a multimillion-dollar razor business after Harry’s Razors pulled its advertisements, and Tucker Carlson launched a nicotine pouch product called ALP that contributed to Turning Point Brands’ share price skyrocketing by more than 50 percent since its announcement. MAGA activists also successfully pressured Cracker Barrel to restore its old logo after changes sparked outrage.
The boycott campaign follows what conservatives view as years of censorship by mainstream media and Big Tech firms. Nearly every major technology company deplatformed President Trump following the January 6, 2021, Capitol incident, and many also banned prominent conservative influencers and accounts. In response, conservatives have made concerted efforts to build their own right-wing economy, though most large tech and media brands now exercise more caution before implementing major bans.