Conservatives are calling for a boycott of Netflix after its famous “Cocomelon Lane” show featured a young child dressing in a tutu and tiara and dancing for his gay dads. A clip of the episode was posted to X by the conservative account End Wokeness, writing, “The new CoComelon Lane on Netflix has a boy in a dress dance for his 2 gay dads. CoComelon is the most popular show for babies and toddlers ages 2+.” Forbes noted that “Cocomelon Lane” was “the tenth-most-viewed program in the United States on Netflix between Dec. 11 and Dec. 17,” ranking in the top ten for 5 weeks. The episode features a little boy of apparent preschool age trying to pick out an outfit to wear for a family photo shoot while his dads sing, “If you’re not sure what to choose, think about all the things you like to do, just be you.” He dresses in various outfits, with the tiara and tutu being one of them. The child, Nico, ultimately chooses to wear an outfit with a chef’s hat and tiara, with multiple hats thrown on top. 

The clip received backlash from notable conservatives like The Daily Wire’s Ben Shapiro and Matt Walsh. Matt Walsh called for giving the show the “full Bud Light treatment.” Walsh was one of the main voices behind the push to boycott Bud Light after it was announced that transgender advocate Dylan Mulvaney, a man who identifies as a woman, would be the brand’s new spokesman. Bud Light and Mulvaney have since parted ways, but the brand has still suffered significant financial losses since the boycott. Netflix was also previously in conservative crosshairs when it aired the controversial film “Cuties,” with the movie’s original poster being pulled after it was called “provocative.” The movie’s supporters stated the film was meant to be a commentary on the sexualization of children, however, a Texas district attorney attempted to charge the streaming mogul for distributing pornography. An appeals court has blocked the move. 

Forbes noted that a study by GLAAD found that Netflix has more LGBTQ+ characters than other streaming services. The show “She-Ra and the Princesses of Power” on Netflix is rated Y7, has five seasons, and features numerous characters with same-sex parents and ends with the titular main character sharing a same-sex kiss with her love interest. The show’s showrunner and numerous others who worked on it identify as LGBTQ+. Netflix isn’t alone in facing accusations of “wokeness” in its attempt to be more diverse. In 2022, a Disney executive admitted to pushing a “not-at-all-secret gay agenda” in children’s animated shows. “I was just, wherever I could, adding queerness. No one would stop me, and no one was trying to stop me,” she added. Movies like Elemental, Strange World and Lightyear from the House of Mouse featured LGBTQ+ storylines, drawing criticism from conservatives and losing money at the box office. The loss of goodwill has led to further financial consequences, with Disney losing its number one spot in box office grosses in 2023 to Universal Studios, which had successes like The Super Mario Brothers and Oppenheimer.