The U.S. military has criticized Netflix’s one-season series “Boots” for being labeled “woke garbage” by Pentagon officials, prompting its cancellation. The show centered on Cameron Cope, a gay Louisiana teenager who found camaraderie among fellow recruits during the 1990s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” era of military service.
Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson stated that under the current administration, U.S. military standards prioritize “elite, uniform, and sex-neutral” principles—emphasizing that the physical demands of service transcend gender identity. Wilson added that the military would not compromise its values to accommodate “an ideological agenda,” contrasting Netflix’s approach as one that consistently produces content deemed harmful to children.
The series, based on Greg Cope White’s memoir The Pink Marine, received critical acclaim with a 90% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 7.9 score on IMDb prior to its cancellation. Officials previously condemned the show during October remarks to Entertainment Weekly, citing alignment with Trump administration efforts to restore military tradition.
Netflix’s decision follows heightened tensions between the platform and federal authorities over programming choices, amid reports of potential strategic shifts in media acquisitions.
