In a rapidly evolving media landscape, where the boundaries of children’s programming are being redrawn with increasing boldness, Tennessee Republican Congressman Tim Burchett is demanding accountability. The target of his concern: Netflix, and what he calls the “demonic” transgender themes appearing in its lineup of children’s content.
Burchett, alongside House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-KY), has taken formal action, sending a letter to Netflix executives calling them before Congress. At the center of this push is Dead End: Paranormal Park, a Netflix cartoon that featured a transgender teenage boy as its protagonist.
Aimed at viewers under 13, the show also explores supernatural themes—possessed dogs, vengeful ghosts, and demons—blending horror-fantasy tropes with a coming-of-age narrative. Burchett’s outrage, however, isn’t just about the demons. It’s about what he calls an aggressive normalization of transgender ideology aimed squarely at children.
You will never guess who the creator of this show is… a he/they lgbtq bluesky fan who mocked Charlie’s m*rder and called him a nazi
Is anyone surprised?? https://t.co/Ei3zEwseoJ pic.twitter.com/fZi7j3Lbwk
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) September 30, 2025
“If they don’t come in voluntarily, we ought to subpoena them,” Burchett told Fox News. His remarks reflect a growing conservative concern that children’s media is being used to push ideological messages under the guise of inclusivity and representation. “This is a serious issue. It affects the mental health of our young people, the moral degradation of our society.”
Burchett isn’t alone in sounding the alarm. Critics point to other Netflix titles—Strawberry Shortcake: Berry in the Big City, Monster High, The Baby-Sitters Club, and Transformers: Earthspark—as examples of LGBTQ+ representation that may be, in their view, less about inclusion and more about indoctrination.
At the heart of the controversy is the question of intent. Are streaming giants simply reflecting a broader cultural shift—or are they attempting to shape it?
The congressman insists it’s the latter. He wants to know what parental controls Netflix has in place, and whether these platforms are being held to any moral or regulatory standard.
While he concedes Netflix enjoys protections under the First Amendment, Burchett argues there’s a “fine line” between free expression and harmful exposure, especially when children are involved.
