Electric car and aerospace entrepreneur Elon Musk has said that streaming company Netflix is doing poorly because “the woke mind virus” is making the site’s content unwatchable.
The comment came following reports that Netflix’s shares dropped 20% after the company lost subscribes for the first time in over a decade.
The woke mind virus is making Netflix unwatchable
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 20, 2022
Last year Netflix announced it would be spending $100 million to “improve diversity” in its content and go out of their way to include more characters of various ethnic, sexual and gender makeups.
Netflix will spend $100 million to improve diversity on film following equity study https://t.co/4xiNYSOh8G
— CNBC (@CNBC) February 26, 2021
In March Musk ridiculed the company for this policy, posting a meme shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine that said “Netflix waiting for the war to end to make a movie about a black Ukrainian guy falling in love with a transgender Russian soldier.”
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 14, 2022
Netflix has drawn criticism in recent years for its policy of forced diversity in its productions.
For example, the Netflix series “Vikings: Valhalla” portrays a historical Viking Earl named Haakon Ericsson, who in real life was a Scandinavian man. However, in the series, he is portrayed by a black woman for the sake of forced diversity.
Destiny Jackson dives into Black Vikings and Caroline Henderson's warrior queen Jarl Estrid Haakon. https://t.co/0k2ocC6vTm
— Lawrence Yee (@lawryee) February 25, 2022
Other Netflix series, such as the Witcher, based on a videogame series, have drawn criticism for having such a diverse cast, considering the story is based on Slavic and central European folklore.
The Witcher Showrunner Explains Netflix's Approach To Casting and Diversity:https://t.co/sLALapZVX4 pic.twitter.com/Kiylwcafwz
— ComicBook NOW! (@ComicBookNOW) July 21, 2019
Following Musk’s most recent comment, others chimed in with their agreement.
“Not just Netflix,” said one Twitter user.
“Movies in general. Videogames, TV – it’s all infested with current year trend woke garbage for fear offending a green haired freak next to the ban button. Nothing original anymore at all, except for media coming out of places like Japan or Korea.”
Not just Netflix. Movies in general, videogames, tv, it's all infested with current year trend woke garbage for fear offending a green haired freak next to the ban button.
Nothing original anymore at all, except for media coming out of places like Japan or Korea,ironically
~cwb— Niche Gamer (@nichegamer) April 20, 2022
Musk responded “true,” adding “Can they please just make sci-fi/fantasy at least *mostly* about sci-fi/fantasy?”
Can they please just make sci-fi/fantasy at least *mostly* about sci-fi/fantasy?
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 20, 2022
One other commenter replying to the news said “[The] woke mind virus is the biggest threat to civilisation.”
Musk flatly replied “Yes.”
Yes
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 20, 2022