Netflix Backlash
Netflix Faces Backlash and Boycott Calls Over Coincidental Social Media Post
Anonymous
Key Points
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The post was published at 8:00 a.m. Eastern time and used images from The Gentlemen’s Season 2 wedding episode: one showed Susie Glass among the guests, while the other showed Eddie at the altar turning his head to look back at her.
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The post remained online with more than 7 million views, while users proposed adding a Community Note; no Community Note was publicly visible at the time of the report.
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The controversy unfolded as Turning Point USA prepared a “Freedom Built to Last” memorial for Kirk at Utah Valley University, the site of the shooting.
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Jack Posobiec, described as a close friend of Kirk, urged followers to “Cancel Netflix completely,” while Libs of TikTok said she had already canceled her subscription; other users shared alleged cancellation confirmations.
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The incident was not Netflix’s first controversy tied to Kirk: the report said Elon Musk backed a “Cancel Netflix” campaign the previous October after an animated-show creator was accused of calling Kirk a “Nazi.”
Netflix's U.K. and Ireland social media account faced intense backlash after posting images from the crime drama *The Gentlemen* with a caption about a "neck injury" on the first anniversary of conservative activist Charlie Kirk's death by gunshot wound to the neck. Yahoo News reported that the post, which showed scenes from the show's Season 2 wedding episode, sparked boycott calls and accusations that Netflix was mocking Kirk's assassination, though the company said the caption referred solely to a scene in the series where an actor turns his head.
The controversy generated widespread criticism online, with prominent conservative figures calling for subscription cancellations. IBTimes reported that Netflix faced losing paying subscribers over the incident, though no independent verification of cancellations was provided. The post remained online with more than 7 million views as of reporting.
Netflix Denies Intent to Mock Kirk's Death
Netflix pushed back against accusations of deliberate mockery. Newsweek reported that Netflix denied the post was mocking Kirk's assassination, saying the caption directly referenced a scene in *The Gentlemen* where a character turns his head. The company called suggestions of another meaning "misguided." The post showed two screenshots: one of Susie Glass among wedding guests and another of Eddie at the altar turning his head to look back at her.
Boycott Calls From Conservative Figures and Users
Conservative voices rapidly organized opposition to Netflix over the post. Jack Posobiec, described as a close friend of Kirk, urged his followers to "Cancel Netflix completely." Libs of TikTok said she had already canceled her subscription. Other users shared alleged cancellation confirmations on social media, fueling momentum for the boycott.
The timing amplified controversy around the post. Yahoo News noted that the incident unfolded as Turning Point USA, the organization Kirk led, prepared a "Freedom Built to Last" memorial at Utah Valley University—the site of Kirk's shooting. The post was published at 8:00 a.m. Eastern time on the anniversary date.
Part of a Pattern of Netflix Controversies
This was not Netflix's first run-in with Kirk-related outrage. Yahoo News reported that Elon Musk had backed a "Cancel Netflix" campaign the previous October after an animated-show creator was accused of calling Kirk a "Nazi." That earlier dispute had raised questions about Netflix's internal culture and editorial judgment around coverage of conservative figures.
Post Remains Online as Users Seek Community Notes
The controversial post stayed live with more than 7 million views. Users proposed adding Community Notes—X's fact-checking labels—to provide context, though no publicly visible Community Note appeared at the time of reporting. IBTimes noted that Netflix had not confirmed whether it would remove the post or issue a further statement beyond its initial denial.
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