Netflix is under fire from concerned parents and critics following the resurfacing of contentious clips from its children’s programming. The uproar focuses on themes presented in the 2020 series, The Baby-Sitters Club, and the 2021-2024 series Strawberry Shortcake: Berry in the Big City, which have sparked outrage on social media.
In the reboot of The Baby-Sitters Club, rated TV-G for general audiences, a scene shows a teenage babysitter confronting hospital staff for “misgendering” a transgender child named Bailey. In the episode “Mary Anne Saves the Day,” Mary Anne passionately demands that medical professionals use “she/her” pronouns for Bailey, who identifies as a girl despite being biologically male. The confrontation occurs when Mary Anne asserts that the doctors’ refusal to use the correct pronouns leaves Bailey feeling “insignificant and humiliated.” Bailey is portrayed by Kai Shappley, a child actor who identifies as transgender, raising questions about the appropriateness of such complex themes in content meant for children.
Conservative voices have sharply criticized this portrayal. A tweet from Libs of TikTok declared, “HOLY SHIT. Show on @Netflix ‘The Baby-Sitters Club’ pushes TRANSGENDERISM on KIDS, shames characters for ‘misgendering’ and demands hospital staff refer to and treat a boy as a girl. INSANITY. This show is rated for CHILDREN. CANCEL NETFLIX.” This sentiment echoes broader concerns about media targeting young, impressionable audiences.
Similarly, the animated reboot of Strawberry Shortcake features a character wearing a dress adorned with colors associated with the transgender pride flag. This character boldly declares pride in living authentically. Such imagery has led to accusations that Netflix promotes progressive ideologies, with critics claiming that these themes are inappropriate for children. As one commenter put it, “OMG. Children’s @Netflix show ‘Strawberry Shortcake: Berry in the Big City’ is promoting transgender drag queens to CHILDREN. Netflix is grooming kids. CANCEL NETFLIX.”
The backlash has intensified with support from notable figures, including tech billionaire Elon Musk. Musk has urged followers multiple times to cancel their Netflix subscriptions, accusing the platform of pushing a progressive agenda into children’s programming. His direct appeal, stating “Cancel Netflix for the health of your kids,” resonates with many parents. Through these comments, Musk has significantly contributed to the backlash, exacerbating concerns about content aimed at youth.
Another factor contributing to the uproar is the reaction stirred by the animated series Dead End: Paranormal Park, which recently featured a clip that went viral. The show’s creator has responded to critics with heated remarks on social media, reflecting the tensions surrounding current content and cultural narratives. The controversy aligns with past scrutiny, particularly when a teenage lesbian kiss from the animated series Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous drew international attention. Hungary’s regulators even investigated Netflix for potentially exposing minors to LGBT themes.
Critics of Netflix have voiced disappointment, asserting that the streaming service has a responsibility to provide age-appropriate content. Speculation about the implications of this backlash has resulted in financial consequences for Netflix; its stock has seen a decline in value since the controversy began. As of early October 2025, the stock price fell approximately 1.4%, indicating that such concerns may influence subscriber behavior and, consequently, the company’s financial standing.
Although Netflix has not officially responded to the latest allegations, the mounting criticism from conservative viewers and regulatory threats could provoke a reevaluation of its programming strategy. As these discussions unfold, the events surrounding The Baby-Sitters Club and Strawberry Shortcake reflect a larger cultural battle over the content available to children, highlighting the tension between traditional values and modern narratives in media.
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