Parents launch boycott of Netflix over Ada Twist gay wedding episode, accusing the streamer of promoting LGBTQ+ themes to young children
Parents have launched boycott of Netflix over gay wedding featured in the children’s series *Ada Twist, Scientist, accusing the streaming giant of pushing LGBTQ+ themes to very young audiences.
The backlash erupted over Season 4, Episode 11 of the award-winning STEM-themed show.
Titled Blue River Wedding, the episode follows Ada and her friends as they plan a wedding for their jiu-jitsu instructor, Sensei Dave, voiced by Star Trek legend George Takei, and his partner Jiu Jitsu Joe, played by actor Guillermo Díaz.
Many parents have accused Netflix of straying from the programme’s educational mission by including a same-sex wedding storyline.
Conservative commentators argue that the colourful ceremony, which features heartfelt vows, decorations and a kiss between the grooms, is inappropriate for the series’ preschool and early primary-school audience.
The influential social media account Libs of TikTok fuelled the backlash by posting clips from the episode and highlighting that Barack and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground Productions is among the show’s executive producers.
The revelation sparked claims of political indoctrination, with hashtags such as #CancelNetflix trending on X (formerly Twitter).
Some parents shared screenshots of cancelled subscriptions, while one viral post accused Netflix of “turning children’s shows into platforms for activism.”
Spanish-language posts also urged families to “do your part and cancel your subscriptions,” claiming the show encouraged children to reject traditional values.
Faith-based review site Plugged In, linked to Focus on the Family, criticised the episode for departing from earlier seasons that were “largely free of content concerns.”
The Scott Smith Blog similarly described the storyline as part of a “sinful push against family values.”
Netflix has not yet issued an official response but has previously defended its diverse line-up, saying it “reflects the world our kids live in.”
The show remains available on the platform and continues to rank highly among its most-watched children’s titles.
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The controversy has reignited debate over the boundaries of inclusivity in children’s entertainment and whether such themes belong in programming designed for audiences as young as three.
Ojelabi, the publisher of Freelanews, is an award winning and professionally trained mass communicator and a recipient of the D9112 Superstar Icon Award, who writes ruthlessly about pop culture, religion, politics and entertainment.
