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The Pentagon has sharply criticized Netflix following the release of its new gay military drama, Boots, labeling the show as “woke garbage.” This strong reaction underscores ongoing cultural clashes concerning content on streaming platforms and the military’s perceived ethos.
The Controversial Series: Boots
Boots, a popular new series, draws its narrative from Greg Cope White’s 2015 memoir, The Pink Marine. Set in the 1990s, the drama chronicles the journey of a closeted teenager who enlists in the United States Marine Corps. The show has quickly become a global hit, currently ranking among Netflix’s top ten most-watched programs.
Pentagon’s Stance on ‘Warrior Ethos’
In a statement shared with Entertainment Weekly, Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson voiced the military’s position. “Under President Trump and Secretary [Pete] Hegseth, the US military is getting back to restoring the warrior ethos,” Wilson declared. He emphasized that military standards are “elite, uniform, and sex neutral,” asserting that the physical demands of service, such as carrying a rucksack or a person, are indifferent to gender or sexual orientation.
Wilson explicitly contrasted this with Netflix’s approach: “We will not compromise our standards to satisfy an ideological agenda, unlike Netflix whose leadership consistently produces and feeds woke garbage to their audience and children.”
Critical Acclaim and Modern Relevance
Despite the Pentagon’s harsh words, Boots has garnered significant critical praise. The Guardian described the series as “incredibly powerful,” while The Hollywood Reporter noted its dual nature – both “critical of the military’s 1990s-era anti-gay policies” and “respectful of the military in many ways… positive about the brotherhood aspects of enlisted life.”
Miles Heizer, the gay actor starring in the lead role, reflected on the show’s unexpected contemporary resonance. “When the show started filming [in 2023], I don’t think we intended to have this message that’s so relevant to serving today,” Heizer stated. “But then of course as we’re making it, all these things started happening. It’s very interesting that Boots shines a light on what’s actually happening now, even though the show is set in 1990. It’s upsetting.”
Broader ‘Anti-Woke’ Content Debate
The Pentagon’s criticism of Boots arrives amidst a broader conservative backlash against diverse content on Netflix and other platforms. Earlier this month, entrepreneur Elon Musk urged his vast X following to cancel their Netflix subscriptions, citing a resurfaced clip featuring a transgender character in the animated series Dead End: Paranormal Park. Musk, who has a transgender daughter, framed his call as being “for the health of your kids.”
Zach Barack, the transgender voice actor for the character, countered Musk’s sentiment, stating: “you can fear monger all you want, but kids & parents have told me it saved their lives!!”
Secretary Hegseth’s Previous Actions
The controversy surrounding Boots is not an isolated incident within the Trump administration’s military leadership. In June, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News pundit, ordered the US Navy to remove the name of gay activist Harvey Milk from one of its ships. Hegseth justified this decision by citing his commitment to “re-establishing the warrior culture” of the military.
The move drew sharp criticism from prominent figures such as Oscar-winning actor Sean Penn, who starred in the biopic Milk, and screenwriter Dustin Lance Black. Black publicly denounced Hegseth, remarking, “These guys are idiots… Pete Hegseth does not seem like a smart man, a wise man, a knowledgeable man. He seems small and petty. I would love to introduce him to some LGBTQ folks who are warriors who have had to be warriors our entire life just to live our lives openly as who we are.”
Despite these ongoing content battles, Netflix continues its dominance in the streaming market, boasting over 301.6 million paid users across more than 190 countries.
Pentagon Under Scrutiny
The military establishment finds itself under additional scrutiny, as the Pentagon is currently facing backlash for introducing new policies for reporters. These policies are perceived by many leading news organizations as potentially limiting the quality and trustworthiness of their journalistic work, leading several to surrender their press badges in protest.