Creator of Netflix cartoon smears Charlie Kirk as a Nazi

In September 2023, following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Hamish Steele, the creator of the children's cartoon series Dead End: Paranormal Park, took to the social media platform BlueSky to express his views. In a controversial and expletive-laden post, Steele called Kirk a 'Nazi' and criticized those who mourned him, saying they showed little sympathy for families suffering due to violence from weapons. This incendiary comment quickly gained traction on social media, drawing significant backlash from various quarters, leading to public outrage against Steele and the Netflix series. Dead End: Paranormal Park, which premiered on Netflix in 2021, featured a storyline focused on a transgender character and aimed at children as young as seven. The show was designed to blend themes of horror and comedy while exploring topics such as identity and belonging. Its premise features a gay transgender teen boy named Barry who navigates various supernatural challenges alongside his dog, often including comedic elements amid the horror. Despite some praise for its representation of transgender issues, the series faced criticism for its suitability for younger audiences. Critics, particularly from conservative circles, expressed concerns about exposing children to themes they deemed inappropriate. This sparked debates surrounding the role of children's programming in presenting diverse identities and narratives. The reaction accelerated following Steele’s social media remarks, which many viewed as divisive and inflammatory. As a result of Steele's comments and the series' content, Netflix began to see an uptick in membership cancellations, with notable individuals like billionaire Elon Musk publicly announcing their decision to cancel subscriptions. This mass cancellation highlighted the increasing polarization in society regarding media representation and the consumption of content by families. Eventually, Netflix decided to cancel Dead End: Paranormal Park after two seasons, reflecting the challenges streaming platforms face in balancing creative expression with audience expectations and values.